47 human secreted proteins

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel human secreted proteins and isolated nucleic acids containing the coding regions of the genes encoding such proteins. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing human secreted proteins. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to these novel human secreted proteins.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of copending PCT international application Ser. No. PCT/US99/29950 filed Dec. 16, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference, which claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60/113,006 filed Dec. 18, 1998, and No. 60/112,809 filed Dec. 17, 1998, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides, uses of such polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Unlike bacterium, which exist as a single compartment surrounded by a membrane, human cells and other eucaryotes are subdivided by membranes into many functionally distinct compartments. Each membrane-bounded compartment, or organelle, contains different proteins essential for the function of the organelle. The cell uses “sorting signals,” which are amino acid motifs located within the protein, to target proteins to particular cellular organelles.

[0004] One type of sorting signal, called a signal sequence, a signal peptide, or a leader sequence, directs a class of proteins to an organelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER separates the membrane-bounded proteins from all other types of proteins. Once localized to the ER, both groups of proteins can be further directed to another organelle called the Golgi apparatus. Here, the Golgi distributes the proteins to vesicles, including secretory vesicles, the cell membrane, lysosomes, and the other organelles.

[0005] Proteins targeted to the ER by a signal sequence can be released into the extracellular space as a secreted protein. For example, vesicles containing secreted proteins can fuse with the cell membrane and release their contents into the extracellular space—a process called exocytosis. Exocytosis can occur constitutively or after receipt of a triggering signal. In the latter case, the proteins are stored in secretory vesicles (or secretory granules) until exocytosis is triggered. Similarly, proteins residing on the cell membrane can also be secreted into the extracellular space by proteolytic cleavage of a “linker” holding the protein to the membrane.

[0006] Despite the great progress made in recent years, only a small number of genes encoding human secreted proteins have been identified. These secreted proteins include the commercially valuable human insulin, interferon, Factor VIII, human growth hormone, tissue plasminogen activator, and erythropoeitin. Thus, in light of the pervasive role of secreted proteins in human physiology, a need exists for identifying and characterizing novel human secreted proteins and the genes that encode them. This knowledge will allow one to detect, to treat, and to prevent medical diseases, disorders, and/or conditions by using secreted proteins or the genes that encode them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to novel polynucleotides and the encoded polypeptides. Moreover, the present invention relates to vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides. Also provided are diagnostic methods for detecting diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to the polypeptides and polynucleotides, and therapeutic methods for treating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying binding partners of the polypeptides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Definitions

[0009] The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding of certain terms used throughout this specification.

[0010] In the present invention, “isolated” refers to material removed from its original environment (e.g.; the natural environment if it is naturally occurring), and thus is altered “by the hand of man” from its natural state. For example, an isolated polynucleotide could be part of a vector or a composition of matter, or could be contained within a cell, and still be “isolated” because that vector, composition of matter, or particular cell is not the original environment of the polynucleotide. The term “isolated” does not refer to genomic or cDNA libraries, whole cell total or mRNA preparations, genomic DNA preparations (including those separated by electrophoresis and transferred onto blots), sheared whole cell genomic DNA preparations or other compositions where the art demonstrates no distinguishing features of the polynucleotide/sequences of the present invention.

[0011] In the present invention, a “secreted” protein refers to those proteins capable of being directed to the ER, secretory vesicles, or the extracellular space as a result of a signal sequence, as well as those proteins released into the extracellular space without necessarily containing a signal sequence. If the secreted protein is released into the extracellular space, the secreted protein can undergo extracellular processing to produce a “mature” protein. Release into the extracellular space can occur by many mechanisms, including exocytosis and proteolytic cleavage.

[0012] In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention are at least 15, at least 30, at least 50, at least 100, at least 125, at least 500, or at least 1000 continuous nucleotides but are less than or equal to 300 kb, 200 kb, 100 kb, 50 kb, 15 kb, 10 kb, 7.5 kb, 5 kb, 2.5 kb, 2.0 kb, or 1 kb, in length. In a further embodiment, polynucleotides of the invention comprise a portion of the coding sequences, as disclosed herein, but do not comprise all or a portion of any intron. In another embodiment, the polynucleotides comprising coding sequences do not contain coding sequences of a genomic flanking gene (i.e., 5′ or 3′ to the gene of interest in the genome). In other embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention do not contain the coding sequence of more than 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 genomic flanking gene(s).

[0013] As used herein, a “polynucleotide” refers to a molecule having a nucleic acid sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA contained within the clone deposited with the ATCC. For example, the polynucleotide can contain the nucleotide sequence of the full length cDNA sequence, including the 5′ and 3′ untranslated sequences, the coding region, with or without the signal sequence, the secreted protein coding region, as well as fragments, epitopes, domains, and variants of the nucleic acid sequence. Moreover, as used herein, a “polypeptide” refers to a molecule having the translated amino acid sequence generated from the polynucleotide as broadly defined.

[0014] In the present invention, the full length sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X was often generated by overlapping sequences contained in multiple clones (contig analysis). A representative clone containing all or most of the sequence for SEQ ID NO:X was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (“ATCC”). As shown in Table 1, each-clone is identified by a cDNA Clone ID (Identifier) and the ATCC Deposit Number. The ATCC is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA. The ATCC deposit was made pursuant to the terms of the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for purposes of patent procedure.

[0015] A “polynucleotide” of the present invention also includes those polynucleotides capable of hybridizing, under stringent hybridization conditions, to sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X, the complement thereof, or the cDNA within the clone deposited with the ATCC. “Stringent hybridization conditions” refers to an overnight incubation at 42 degree C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5× SSC (750 mM NaCl, 75 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5× Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 μg/ml denatured, sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1× SSC at about 65 degree C.

[0016] Also contemplated are nucleic acid molecules that hybridize to the polynucleotides of the present invention at lower stringency hybridization conditions. Changes in the stringency of hybridization and signal detection are primarily accomplished through the manipulation of formamide concentration (lower percentages of formamide result in lowered stringency); salt conditions, or temperature. For example, lower stringency conditions include an overnight incubation at 37 degree C. in a solution comprising 6× SSPE (20× SSPE=3M NaCl; 0.2M NaH₂PO₄; 0.02M EDTA, pH 7.4), 0.5% SDS, 30% formamide, 100 ug/ml salmon sperm blocking DNA; followed by washes at 50 degree C. with 1× SSPE, 0. 1% SDS. In addition, to achieve even lower stringency, washes performed following stringent hybridization can be done at higher salt concentrations (e.g. 5× SSC).

[0017] Note that variations in the above conditions may be accomplished through the inclusion and/or substitution of alternate blocking reagents used to suppress background in hybridization experiments. Typical blocking reagents include Denhardt's reagent, BLOTTO, heparin, denatured salmon sperm DNA, and commercially available proprietary formulations. The inclusion of specific blocking reagents may require modification of the hybridization conditions described above, due to problems with compatibility.

[0018] Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to polyA+ sequences (such as any 3′ terminal polyA+ tract of a cDNA shown in the sequence listing), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) residues, would not be included in the definition of “polynucleotide,” since such a polynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing a poly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically any double-stranded cDNA clone generated using oligo dT as a primer).

[0019] The polynucleotide of the present invention can be composed of any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. For example, polynucleotides can be composed of single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, the polynucleotide can be composed of triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. A polynucleotide may also contain one or more modified bases or DNA or RNA backbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications can be made to DNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically, or metabolically modified forms.

[0020] The polypeptide of the present invention can be composed of amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i.e., peptide isosteres, and may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene-encoded amino acids. The polypeptides may be modified by either natural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemical modification techniques which are well known in the art. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Polypeptides may be branched, for example, as a result of ubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched, and branched cyclic polypeptides may result from posttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods. Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, pegylation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, for instance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E. Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); POSTTRANSLATIONAL COVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press, New York, pgs. 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al., Meth Enzymol 182:626-646 (1990); Rattan et al., Ann NY Acad Sci 663:48-62 (1992).)

[0021] “SEQ ID NO:X” refers to a polynucleotide sequence while “SEQ ID NO:Y” refers to a polypeptide sequence, both sequences identified by an integer specified in Table 1.

[0022] “A polypeptide having biological activity” refers to polypeptides exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical to, an activity of a polypeptide of the present invention, including mature forms, as measured in a particular biological assay, with or without dose dependency. In the case where dose dependency does exist, it need not be identical to that of the polypeptide, but rather substantially similar to the dose-dependence in a given activity as compared to the polypeptide of the present invention (i.e., the candidate polypeptide will exhibit greater activity or not more than about 25-fold less and, preferably, not more than about tenfold less activity, and most preferably, not more than about three-fold less activity relative to the polypeptide of the present invention.)

[0023] Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention

[0024] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 1

[0025] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with Maguin-1 and Maguin-2 (see GenBank Accessions: AAD04568 and AAD04567; all references available through this accession are hereby incorporated herein by reference; for example Yao, I., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:11889-96 (1999). Maguin-1 and -2 are proteins which interact with membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUK's). MAGUK proteins constitute a relatively new family of proteins identified as structural components of epithelial tight junctions, neuromuscular junctions, neuronal synapses, and also as cell signaling proteins in multicellular organisms. The combined data from recent biochemical and genetic analyses of membrane-associated guanylate kinases suggest that certain tight junction proteins can play an important roles in cell signaling pathways. MAGUKs are also localized at the plasma membrane of other cell types, including erythrocytes, where they contribute to cell shape maintenance. MAGUKs function mainly by binding directly to the cytoplasmic termini of transmembrane proteins as well as to other signal transduction proteins. They appear to hold together elements of individual signaling pathways, thereby contributing to the efficiency and specificity of signaling interactions while simultaneously maintaining the structural specializations of the plasma membrane. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with Maguin-1 and Maguin-2 proteins. Such activities include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining cell structural integrity and participating in cell-signal transduction pathways. Other activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein.

[0026] This gene is expressed primarily in colon cancer and to a lesser extent in embryonic tissues and testis. This gene has also been found to be expressed in both central and peripheral nervous system tissue.

[0027] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancers of colon. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the colon and gastrointestinal track, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0028] The tissue distribution also indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0029] The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful in diagnosis and treatment of colon cancers or cancers of Gastrointestinal system. In addition, the gene product can be used directly or as a therapeutic target for gastrointestinal ailments or diseases, including congenital disorders, infections, diverticular diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, radiation entercolitis, neoplasms, malabsorption, ulcers etc.

[0030] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:11 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1752 of SEQ ID NO:11, b is an integer of 15 to 1766, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:11, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0031] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 2

[0032] The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have a transmembrane domain at about amino acid position 43-59 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, a cytoplasmic tail encompassing amino acids 60 to 108 of this protein has also been determined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type Ia membrane proteins.

[0033] This gene is expressed primarily in uterine cancer and neuroblastoma, and to a lesser extent in fetal brain.

[0034] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: AAPDGGTMSSSGGAPGASASSAPPAQEEG (SEQ ID NO: 113). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0035] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, uterine cancer and neuroblastoma. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, neurological, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0036] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 63 as residues: Arg-87 to Leu-100. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0037] The tissue distribution in uterine cancer and neuroblastoma indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and/or treatment of uterine cancer and neuroblastoma, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been indicated. Moreover, the expression within cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain degenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Alternatively, this gene product may be involved in the pattern of cellular proliferation that accompanies early embryogenesis. Thus, aberrant expression of this gene product in tissues—particularly adult tissues—may correlate with patterns of abnormal cellular proliferation, such as found in various cancers. Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and is useful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0038] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:12 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2653 of SEQ ID NO:12, b is an integer of 15 to 2667, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:12, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0039] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 3

[0040] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with K-glypican/glypican-4 (GPC4), which is thought to be important in the control of cell division and growth regulation.

[0041] This gene is expressed primarily in macrophages and monocytes, and to a lesser extent in fetal heart.

[0042] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), immunodeficiency, tumor necrosis, infection, lymphomas, auto-immunities, cancer, metastasis, wound healing, inflammation, anemias (leukemia) and other hematopoietic disorder. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, nervous, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0043] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or all eight of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 64 as residues: Lys-40 to Ala-47, Glu-70 to Tyr-75, Leu-77 to Phe-83, Arg-101 to Glu-107, Asn-115 to Leu-120, Lys-192 to Leu-197, Gln-234 to Val-244, Gln-280 to Phe-286. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0044] The glypican family of heparan sulfate proteoglycans comprises four vertebrate members, glypican, cerebroglycan, OCI-5, and K-glypican, and the Drosophila protein, daily. These molecules share highly conserved protein structural features that sharply distinguish them from the syndecans, the other major class of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Typically, members of the glypican family are expressed in the developing nervous system, with one member (cerebroglycan) being restricted to that tissue. Although the functions of the vertebrate members of this family are not known, in Drosophila, the effects of mutations in the daily gene suggest a role for members of the glypican family in regulating cell cycle progression during the transition of neural cells from proliferation to neuronal differentiation. It is likely that proteoglycans of the glypican family also play other important roles in neural development. The OCI-5 gene is mutated in patients with the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS), an X-linked disorder characterized by pre- and postnatal overgrowth, and various visceral and skeletal dysmorphisms. Some of these dysmorphisms could be the result of deficient growth inhibition or apoptosis in certain cell types during development.

[0045] The homology of this gene to the glypican family and the tissue distribution of this gene would suggest an important role for the product of this gene in the immune system, particularly as a signaling or cell adhesion molecule—involved in; cell migration; cell proliferation; angiogenesis; chondrogenesis; oncogenesis; haematostasis; wound healing; and/or organ regeneration. Other immunologically related conditions implicating this gene product might include: immunodeficiency, tumor necrosis, infection, lymphomas, auto-immunities, cancer, metastasis, inflammation, anemias (leukemia) and other hematopoietic disorders.

[0046] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:13 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2156 of SEQ ID NO:13, b is an integer of 15 to 2170, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:13, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0047] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 4

[0048] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with yeast longevity-assurance protein and human GDF-1 embryonic growth factor, which is thought to be important in rejuvenizing old cells and increasing the yeast cell life span. The translation product of this gene could function as a cell growth/differentiation factor, and/or could function as an embryonic development factor, such as a TGF-beta family member in humans.

[0049] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: RRRRNQDRPQLXKKFCEASWRFLFYLSSFVGGLSVLYHESWLWAPVMCWD RYPNQTLKPSLYWWYLLELGFYLSLLIRLPFDVKRKDFKEQVIHHFVAVILMT FSYSANLLRIGSLVLLLHDSSDYLLEACKMVNYMQYQQVCDALFLIFSFVFFY TRLVLFPTQILYTTYYESISNRGPFFGYYFFNGLL (SEQ ID NO: 114), RRRRNQDRPQLXKKFCEASWRFLFYLSSFVGGLSVLYHESWLWAPV (SEQ ID NO: 115), MCWDRYPNQTLKPSLYWWYLLELGFYLSLLIRLPFDVKRKDFKEQVIH (SEQ ID NO: 116), HFVAVILMTFSYSANLLRIGSLVLLLHDSSDYLLEACKMVNYMQYQQ (SEQ ID NO: 117), and/or VCDALFLIFSFVFFYTRLVLFPTQILYTTYYESISNRGPFFGYYFFNGLL (SEQ ID NO: 118). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0050] This gene is expressed primarily in human prostate cancer and breast tissue, and to a lesser extent in liver, heart, brain, adipose tissue, hepatoma and macrophages.

[0051] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer or neoplasia of various tissue origins. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the breast and prostate tissues, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., breast, prostate, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0052] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 65 as residues: Lys-23 to Ile-31, Asp-34 to Glu-43. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0053] The tissue distribution in breast tissue and prostate cancer tissue, and homology to longevity assurance protein or GDF-1, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of tumors, especially breast cancer and prostate cancer, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been indicated.

[0054] The expression in the prostate tissue may indicate the gene or its products can be used in the disorders of the prostate, including inflammatory disorders, such as chronic prostatitis, granulomatous prostatitis and malacoplakia, prostatic hyperplasia and prostate neoplastic disorders, including adenocarcinoma, transitional cell carcinomas, ductal carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, or as hormones or factors with systemic or reproductive functions. Likewise, the expression in the breast tissue may indicate its uses in breast neoplasia and breast cancers, such as fibroadenoma, pipillary carcinoma, ductal carcinoma, Paget's disease, medullary carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, tubular carcinoma, secretory carcinoma and apocrine carcinoma, as well as juvenile hypertrophy and gynecomastia, mastitis and abscess, duct ectasia, fat necrosis and fibrocystic diseases. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0055] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:14 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1176 of SEQ ID NO:14, b is an integer of 15 to 1190, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:14, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0056] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 5

[0057] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with sialyl transferase, which is thought to be important in post translational modification of proteins, for example, in modifying the surface and functional response of secreted and cell surface proteins.

[0058] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: KTYVLPSPGLSIRPPGREVPGSHPFPAPALETAAPRLLRDSDS (SEQ ID NO: 119) and KTYVLPSPGLSIRPPGREVPGSHPFPAPALETAAPRLLRDSDSMKAPGRLVLIIL CSVVFSAVYILLCCWAGLPLCLATCLDHHFPTGSRPTVPGPLHFSGYSSVPDG KPLVREPCRSCAVVSSSGQMLGSGLGAEIDSAECVFRMNQAPTVGFEADVGQ RSTLRVVSHTSVPLLLRNYSHYFQKARDTLYMVWGQGRHMDRVLGGRTYR TLLQLTRMYPGLQVYTFTERMMAYCDQIFQDETGKNRRQSGSFLSTGWFTMI LALELCEEIVVYGNfVSDXYCREKSHPSVPYHYFEKGRLDECQMYLAHEQAP RSAHRFITEKAVFSRWAKKRPIVFAHPSWRTE (SEQ ID NO: 120). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0059] Preferred polynucleotides of the invention also comprise, or alternatively consist of the following nucleic acid sequence: ACATGGTGTGGGGCCAGGGCAGGCACATGGACCGGGTGCTCGGCGGCCG CACCTACCGCACGCTGCTGCAGCTCACCAGGATGTACCCCGGCCTGCAGG TGTACACCTTCACGGAGCGCATGATGGCCTACTGCGACCAGATCTTCCAG GACGAGACGGGCAAGAACCGGAGGCAGTCGGGCTCCTTCCTCAGCACCG GCTGGTTCACCATGATCCTCGCGCTGGAGCTGTGTGAGGAGATCGTGGTC TATGGGATGGTCAGCGACACTACTGCAGGGAGAAGAGCCACCCCTCAGTG CCTTACCACTACTTTGAGAAGGGCCGGCTAGATGAGTGTCAGATGTACCT GGCACACGAGCAGGCGCCCCGAAGCGCCCACCGCTTCATCACTGAGAAG GCGGTCTTCTCCCGCTGGGCCAAGAAGAGGCCCATCGTGTTCGCCCATCC GTCCTGGAGGACTGAGTAGCTTCCGTCGTCCTGCCAGCCGCCATGCCGTTG CGAGGCCTCCGGGATGTCCCATCCCAAGCCATCACACTCCACAAAAACAT TTAATTTATGGTTCCTGCCCTCTGCCACGTGCTGGGTGGACCTAAGGTTCT TCCCACCCATTCTGGCGACACTTGGAGCCATCTCAGGCCCCTCCACTCCCT GAGTAATTCATGGCATTTGGGGGCTCACCCCACCTCCAGGTCTGTCAAGT GGCCTTTGTCCCTGGGGCTGATGGCCCCCAACTCACCAGCATCATGACCTT GTGCCAGTCCTGGTCCTCCCTCCCCAGCCGCCCCTACCACCTTTTGGTGCC ACACTTCTCAGGCTGGCCGCCCTGGTTGGGGCAGCCGAGAGCCTGGGGTT CATTGGTGAAGGGGCCTTGGAGTTGTGACTGCCGGGGCCGTATCAGGAAC GTACGGGTAAACGTGTGTTTTCTGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (SEQ ID NO:121). Polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0060] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is thought to reside on chromosome 9. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 9.

[0061] This gene is expressed primarily in breast, brain and in fetal tissues including fetal lung, liver and spleen, 8 week embryos and 9 week embryos, and to a lesser extent in placenta, colon, a variety of blood cells and ovarian tumors.

[0062] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, reproductive, developmental, and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly hematologic malignancies. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the blood and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., blood, immune, developmental, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, amniotic fluid, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0063] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, or all three of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 66 as residues: Pro-43 to Thr-49, Asn-135 to Asp-145, Gln-197 to Ser-207. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0064] The tissue distribution in blood and immune tissues and the homology to sialyl transferases indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosing and treating diseases of the blood, including abnormal proliferation of blood and immune system precursors. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0065] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:15 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1721 of SEQ ID NO:15, b is an integer of 15 to 1735, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:15, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0066] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 6

[0067] This gene is expressed primarily in brain.

[0068] In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention.

[0069] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: TRNKIWSSTRGGGRSRTSGSPGLQEFGTRSHLAAVHMAAWVFPLLSVIHTXL PQASPEIWVTQSEGGDQGVACEXVGGVLSTLDRIELCFLSDRASSGCXDKXP QTGVLFLGAGICHEGVGRAGSSRALSPGPAXAVFPSFPCAFPGPSCVCLCPRL SWXXYRSQGPWSYWIRATLMASCHCSYL (SEQ ID NO: 122). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0070] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neural disorders, particularly neurological and behavioral disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0071] The tissue distribution in brain indicates polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates that it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0072] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:16 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1260 of SEQ ID NO:16, b is an integer of 15 to 1274, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:16, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0073] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 7

[0074] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the Diff-33 protein, which is thought to be important in spermatogenesis and overexpression in tumors (see Genbank Accession No: gnl|PID|e1310269).

[0075] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: FLGVLVSIIMLSPGVESQLYKLPWVCEEGAGIPTVLQGHIDCGSLLGYRAVYR (SEQ ID NO: 123), PGAGRPKPGAAAMGACLGACSLLSCASCLCGSAPCILCSCCPASRXSTVSRLI FTFFLFLGVLVSIIMLSPGVESQLYKLPWVCEEGAGIPTVLQGHIDCGSLLGYR AVYRMCFATAAFFFFFTLLMLCVSSSRDPRAAIQNGFWFFKFLILVGXTVGAF YIPDGSFTNIWFYFGVVGSFLFILIQLVLLIDFAHSWNQRWLGKAEECDSRAW YAGLFFFTLLFYLLSIAAVALMFMYYTEPSGCHEGKVFISLNLTFCVCVSIAA VLPKVQDAQPNSGLLQASVITLYTMFVTWSALSSIPEQKCNPHLPTQLGNETV VAGPEGYETQWWDAPSIVGLIIFLLCTLFISLRSSDHRQVNSLMQTEECPPML DATQQQQQQVAACEGRAFDNEQDGVTYSYSFFHFCLVLASLHVMMTLT NWYKPGETRKMISTWTAVWVKICASWAGLLLYLWTLVAPLLLRNRDFS (SEQ ID NO: 125) and/or PGAGRPKPGAAAMGACLGACSLLSCASCLCGSAPCILCSCCPASRXSTVSRLI FTFFL (SEQ ID NO: 124). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0076] The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have transmembrane domains at about amino acid positions 225-246, 64-80, 106-122, 141-157, 35-51, 335-351, and 292-308 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type IIIa membrane proteins. The translation product of this gene appears to be a novel 7TM G-coupled receptor.

[0077] This gene is expressed primarily in prostate, testicular tumors, cheek carcinoma and kidney cancer, tumors of various tissues and to a lesser extent in liver and breast.

[0078] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, prostate cancers, breast cancers and cancers of various origins. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the prostate, kidney and breast tissues, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., prostate, kidney, breast, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0079] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 68 as residues: Ser-21 to Arg-26. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0080] The tissue distribution in prostate tissue, and the homology to Diff-33, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasia or cancers of various origins, particularly prostate, kidney, cheek, testicles and breast cancers, as well as other tissues where expression has been observed. Additionally, the abundant expression level in the prostate tissue may be utilized for the treatment of other disorders of the prostate, including inflammatory disorders, such as chronic prostatitis, granulomatous prostatitis and malacoplakia; prostatic hyperplasia and prostate neoplastic disorders, adenocarcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, ductal carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Furthermore, its potential involvement in spermatogenesis may be utilized for contraceptive development, or as a remedy for male infertility. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0081] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:17 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1907 of SEQ ID NO:17, b is an integer of 15 to 1921, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:17, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0082] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 8

[0083] This gene is expressed primarily in both normal and malignant colon tissue.

[0084] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: RCSSIFTPWKLTTLSSFLHHHPGAQRSKLLSIFSPSPRTLTLYR (SEQ ID NO: 126). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0085] In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: RCSSIFTPWKLTTLSSFLHHHPGAQRSKLLSIFSPSPRTLTLYRMGPS SCLLLILIPLLQLINLGSTQCSLDSVMDKKIKDVLNSLEYSPSPISKKLSCASVK SQGRPSSCPAGMAVTGCACGYGCGSWDVQLETTCHCQCSVVDWT TARCCHLT (SEQ ID NO: 127). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0086] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, gastrointestinal diseases and/or disorders, particularly colon cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the gastrointestinal and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., gastrointestinal, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, bile, chyme, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0087] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 69 as residues: Lys-59 to Ser-66. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0088] The tissue distribution in normal and cancerous colon tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, as well as cancer of other tissues where expression has been observed. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0089] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:18 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 678 of SEQ ID NO:18, b is an integer of 15 to 692, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:18, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0090] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 9

[0091] This gene is expressed primarily in activated T-cells Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, inflammation. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0092] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, or all six of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 70 as residues: Gly-34 to Thr-48, Gln-58 to Glu-64, Arg-77 to Thr-92, Pro-132 to Ser-138, Glu-155 to Thr-165, Pro-172 to Lys-177. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0093] The tissue distribution in T-cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for treating inflamatory conditions resulting from the activation of T-cells. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis.

[0094] In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Expression of this gene product in T cells also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0095] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:19 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1486 of SEQ ID NO:19, b is an integer of 15 to 1500, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:19, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0096] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 10

[0097] The translation product of this gene was found to have homology to the conserved myeloid upregulated protein from Mus musculus (See Genbank Accession No. gnl|PID|e347937 (AJ001616)), which is thought to be important in the regulation of myeloid cells, particularly during progression through differentiation.

[0098] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: SVSTTRSFSVDSSAKTAAMPVTVTRTTITTTTTSSSGLGSP (SEQ ID NO: 128), STCVAFSLVASVGAWTG (SEQ ID NO: 129), MFTWCFCF (SEQ ID NO: 130), ILIVEL (SEQ ID NO: 131), FPLSWRNFPITFACYAALFCLS (SEQ ID NO: 132), SIIYPFTTYVQFL (SEQ ID NO: 133), RDHAIAAT (SEQ ID NO: 134), AYATEVAWTRARPGEITGYMATVPGLLKV (SEQ ID NO: 135), ETFVACIIFAFI (SEQ ID NO: 136), ALEWCVAVY (SEQ ID NO: 137), and/or CTNVLPIPFP (SEQ ID NO: 138). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0099] The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have seven transmembrane domains at about amino acid position 18-34, 51-67, 80-96, 114-130, 152-168, 184-200, and/or 217-233 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table I for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type IIIa membrane proteins, or alternatively to G-protein coupled receptors.

[0100] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 19. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 19.

[0101] This gene is expressed primarily in eosinophils, and to a lesser extent, in adipose, thymus, heart, cartilage and smooth muscle.

[0102] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune or hematopoietic disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, adipose, metabolic, cardiovascular, endothelial, vascular, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0103] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 71 as residues: Arg-136 to Glu-141, Phe-240 to Gly-245. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0104] The expression of this gene in eosinophils, combined with the homology to the conserved myeloid upregulated protein indicates the protein or fragments thereof may play a potential role in the treatment/detection of immune disorders such as such as arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, and leukemia, in addition to eosinophil specific disorders including eosinophilia, eosinopenia, and eosinophilic granuloma. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. The uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia. The gene product may also be involved in lymphopoiesis, therefore, it can be used in immune disorders such as infection, inflammation, allergy, immunodeficiency etc. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein (i.e., inhibit the myeloid differentiation potential of the protein, inhibit a signalling pathway integral to myeloid differentiation, etc.). Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene.

[0105] Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum.

[0106] The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0107] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:20 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2122 of SEQ ID NO:20, b is an integer of 15 to 2136, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:20, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0108] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 11

[0109] This gene is expressed primarily in colon, and to a lesser extent in Soares breast 3NbHBst, bone marrow, ulcerative colitis, breast lymph node, thymus, tonsils, Soares ovary tumor NbHOT, rectum, weizmann olfactory epithelium, Hodgkin's Lymphoma II, tongue tumour, adult small intestine, and tongue normal.

[0110] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, colon cancer and ulcerative colitis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the digestive and tumor systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., colon, gastrointestinal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0111] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 72 as residues: Leu-40 to Gly-47. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0112] The tissue distribution in colon and gastrointestinal tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been indicated. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in gastrointestinal tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of various metabolic disorders such as Tay-Sachs disease, phenylkenonuria, galactosemia, porphyrias, and Hurler's syndrome. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0113] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:21 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1533 of SEQ ID NO:21, b is an integer of 15 to 1547, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:21, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0114] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 12

[0115] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with human ribonuclease/angiogenin inhibitor (for example see GenSeq Accession No. R99977).

[0116] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: GLDTGEMSNSTSSLKRQRLGSERAASHVAQANLKLLDVSKIFPIAEIAEESSPE VVPVELLCMPSPASQGDLHTKPLGTDDDFWGPTGPVATEVVDKEKNLYRVH FPVAGSYRWPNTGLCFVMREAVTVEIEFCVWDQFLGEINPQHSWMVAGPLL DIKAEPGAVEAVHLPHFVALQGGHVDTSLFQVAHFKEEGMLLEKPARVELH HIVLENPSFSPLGVLLKMIHNALRFIPVTSVVLLYHRVHPEEVTFHLYLIPSDCS IRKELELCYRSPGEDQLFSEFYVGHLGSGIRLQVKDKKDETLVWEALVKPGD LMPATTLIPPARISVPSPLDAPQLLHFVDQYREQLIARVTSVEVVLDKLHGQV LSQEQYERVLAENTRPSQMRKLFSLSQSWDRKCKDGLYQALKETHPHSLWN SGRRAAKRDSCHSAAEVSTLALDP (SEQ ID NO: 139), GLDTGEMSNSTSSLKRQRLGSERAASHVAQANLKLLDVSKIFPIAEIAEESSPE VVPVELLCMP (SEQ ID NO: 140), SPASQGDLHTKPLGTDDDFWGPTGPVATEVVDKEKNLYRVHFPVAGSYRWP NTGLCFVMRE (SEQ ID NO: 141), AVTVEIEFCVWDQFLGEINPQHSWMVAGPLLDIKAEPGAVEAVHLPHFVALQ GGHVDTSLFQV (SEQ ID NO: 142), AHFKEEGMLLEKPARVELHHIVLENPSFSPLGVLLKMIHNALRFIPVTSVVLL YHRVHPEEVTFH (SEQ ID NO: 143), LYLIPSDCSIRKELELCYRSPGEDQLFSEFYVGHLGSGIRLQVKDKKDETLVW EALVKPGDLMPA (SEQ ID NO: 144), TTLIPPARISVPSPLDAPQLLHFVDQYREQLIARVTSVEVVLDKLHGQVLSQEQ YERVLAENTRP (SEQ ID NO: 145), and/or SQMRKLFSLSQSWDRKCKDGLYQALKETHPHSLWNSGRRAAKRDSCHSAAE VSTLALDP (SEQ ID NO: 146). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0117] This gene is expressed primarily in breast lymph node and to a lesser extent in eosinophils, tonsils, Soares_NhHMPu_S1, KMH2, and resting T-cell.

[0118] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, breast cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and tumor systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., breast, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0119] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 73 as residues: Thr-49 to Arg-54, Leu-147 to Asp-153. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0120] The tissue distribution in breast cancer tissue, and the homology to ribonuclease/angiogenin inhibitor [Homo sapiens], indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been indicated. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0121] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:22 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2643 of SEQ ID NO:22, b is an integer of 15 to 2657, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:22, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0122] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 13

[0123] This gene is expressed primarily in LNCAP prostate cell line, and to a lesser extent in Soares fetal liver spleen 1NFLS.

[0124] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, prostatic cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the male reproductive and tumor systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0125] The tissue distribution in prostate indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of prostatic cancer, as well as cancers in other tissues where expression has been observed. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0126] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:23 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2452 of SEQ ID NO:23, b is an integer of 15 to 2466, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:23, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0127] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 14

[0128] This gene is expressed primarily in activated neutrophils, and healing groin wound.

[0129] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune disorders and wound healing. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0130] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, or all three of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 75 as residues: Ser-19 to Met-38, Lys-53 to Asp-60, Asn-66 to Arg-73. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0131] The tissue distribution in immune tissues and healing groin wounds indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of immune system disorders and wound healing disorders. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in healing groin wounds indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders involving the vasculature. Elevated expression of this gene product in healing groin wounds indicates that it may play vital roles in the regulation of endothelial cell function; secretion; proliferation; or angiogenesis.

[0132] Alternately, this may represent a gene product expressed at the healing groin wound which is then transported to distant sites of action on a variety of target organs. Expression of this gene product by hematopoietic cells also indicates involvement in the proliferation; survival; activation; or differentiation of all blood cell lineages. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Expression of this gene product in neutrophils also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0133] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:24 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2481 of SEQ ID NO:24, b is an integer of 15 to 2495, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:24, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0134] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 15

[0135] When tested against U937 and K-562 cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated both the GAS (gamma activating sequence), as well as, the ISRE (interferon-sensitive responsive element) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates promyeloid or leukemic cells, or more generally, immune, hematopoietic, or other cells, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. ISRE is also a promoter element found upstream in many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the ISRE element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

[0136] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the rat SCAMP 37 and its human and mouse counterparts which are thought to be important in Golgi/secretory granule formation and routing, particularly to the cell membrane (See Genbank Accession No.pir|S37395|S37395).

[0137] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: SEQLPTIAQIHPAEAMFL (SEQ ID NO: 147), YSSPACQHDQAPLLPLDVTD (SEQ ID NO: 148), APHRSGAAHSSARCGLSAAERPRQFRTKRCGQATGPAGNIMAEKVNNFPPLP KFIPLKPCFYQDFEADIPPQHVSMTKRLYYLWM (SEQ ID NO: 149), GAAHSSARCGLSAAERPRQF (SEQ ID NO: 150), ATGPAGNIMAEKVNNFPPLPKFI (SEQ ID NO: 151), and/or IPPQHVSMTKRLY (SEQ ID NO: 152). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0138] In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: HHGRESEQLPTIAQIHPAEAMFLPRLRGRYSSPACQHDQAPLLPLDVTDSSFSF MAFFFTFMAQLVISIIQAVGIPGWGVCGWIATISFFGTNIGSAVVMLIPTVMFT VMAVFSFIALSMVHKFYRGSGGSFSKAQEEWTTGAWKNPHVQQAAQNAAM GAAQGAMNQPQTQYSATPNYTYSNEM (SEQ ID NO: 153). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0139] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 15. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 15.

[0140] This gene is expressed primarily in cerebellum, and to a lesser extent in the cortical regions of the brain, as well as, amygdala, retina and pituitary gland.

[0141] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neural disorders, particularly aberrant sensory, growth, and function disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the brain and neuroendocrine system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, secretory, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0142] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, or all three of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 76 as residues: Ser-79 to Trp-85, Thr-87 to His-94, Asn-112 to Tyr-118. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0143] The tissue distribution in various brain tissues, combined with the detected ISRE and GAS biological activities, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study and treatment of brain defects and tumors, in addition to sensory, memory and cognitive conditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflamatory conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates that it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Moreover, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, disorders of the cardiovascular system, or disorders of the immune or hematopoietic systems, including growth or proliferative conditions. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0144] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:25 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 3230 of SEQ ID NO:25, b is an integer of 15 to 3244, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:25, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0145] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 16

[0146] The translation product of this gene was found to have homology to the glutathione peroxidase of Schistosoma mansoni (See Genbank Accession No.>gi|160998), which is thought to be involved in the regulation of vital cellular processes, particularly of metabolic origin.

[0147] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: ARESSN (SEQ ID NO: 154), RNCTKSLDHPTSACWLFPDNQFGESEPRPSKEVESFARKNYGVTFPIFHKIKIL GSEGEPAFRFLVDSSKKEPRWNFWKYLVNPEGQVVKFWRPEEPIEVIRPDIAA LVRQVIIKKKEDL (SEQ ID NO: 155), ACWLFPDNQFGESEPRPSKEVESF (SEQ ID NO: 156), EGEPAFRFLVDSSKKEPRWNFW (SEQ ID NO: 157), and/or KFWRPEEPIEVIRPDIAALV (SEQ ID NO: 158). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0148] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 5. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 5.

[0149] This gene is expressed primarily in spinal cord, chondrosarcoma, and osteoblasts.

[0150] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neural, or skeletal disorders, particularly osteoporosis and osteosarcoma. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the skeletal system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, skeletal, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0151] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 77 as residues: Lys-10 to Arg-15. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0152] The tissue distribution spinal cord, chondrosarcoma, and osteoblast tissue and cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of skeletal disorders, such as osteoporosis and osteosarcoma. Representative uses are described in the “Biological Activity”, “Hyperproliferative Disorders”, “Infectious Disease”, and “Regeneration” sections below, in Example 11, 19, and 20, and elsewhere herein. Moreover, the expression of this gene product would suggest a role in the detection and treatment of disorders and conditions afflicting the skeletal system, in particular bone cancer or growth conditions, as well as, disorders afflicting connective tissues (e.g. arthritis, trauma, tendonitis, chrondomalacia and inflammation), such as in the diagnosis or treatment of various autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis as well as dwarfism, spinal deformation, and specific joint abnormalities as well as chondrodysplasias (i.e. spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital familial osteoarthritis, Atelosteogenesis type II, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type Schmid). Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0153] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:26 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1348 of SEQ ID NO:26, b is an integer of 15 to 1362, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:26, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0154] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 17

[0155] The translation product of this gene shares good sequence homology with oligodendrocyte-specific secreted protein 17 and with clostridial enterotoxin cell surface receptors which are thought to be important in clostridial attachment. The physiological roles or endogenous human ligands for these receptors are not known.

[0156] This gene is expressed primarily in testes tumor, fetal and infant lung and to a lesser extent in amygdala and some other organs and cell types.

[0157] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, bacterial infections. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the pulmonary and endocrine systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0158] The tissue distribution and homology to CPE receptors indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for study and treatment of infectious diseases and immune defense disorders.

[0159] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:27 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1367 of SEQ ID NO:27, b is an integer of 15 to 1381, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:27, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0160] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 18

[0161] This gene is expressed primarily in synovial sarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, and placenta.

[0162] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, synovial sarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, and placental disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the skeletal and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., skeletal, immune, placental, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0163] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or all eight of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 79 as residues: Pro-27 to Ala-43, Pro-46 to Pro-55, Arg-63 to Gln-79, Glu-95 to Tyr-102, Thr-111 to Asn-124, Pro-141 to Asp-151, Pro-162 to Cys-168, Ala-206 to Ser-215. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0164] The tissue distribution in synovial sarcoma and hemangiopericytoma indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and/or treatment of synovial sarcomas and hemangiopericytomas. In addition, the expression of this gene product in synovium indicates a role in the detection and treatment of disorders and conditions affecting the skeletal system, in particular osteoporosis as well as disorders afflicting connective tissues (e.g. arthritis, trauma, tendonitis, chrondomalacia and inflammation), such as in the diagnosis or treatment of various autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis as well as dwarfism, spinal deformation, and specific joint abnormalities as well as chondrodysplasias (ie. spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, familial osteoarthritis, Atelosteogenesis type II, metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type Schmid). Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0165] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:28 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2513 of SEQ ID NO:28, b is an integer of 15 to 2527, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:28, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0166] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 19

[0167] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: VLNGKILVDISNNLKINQYPESNAEYLAHLVPGAHVVKAFNTISAWAL (SEQ ID NO: 159), QSGALDASRQVFVCGNDSKAKQRVMDIVRNLGLTPMDQGSLMAAKEI (SEQ ID NO: 160), VLNGKILVDISNNLKINQYPESNAEYLAHLVPGAHVVKAFNTISAWALQSGA LDASRQVFVCGNDSKAKQRVMDIVRNLGLTPMDQGSLMAAKEIEKYPLQLF PMWRFPFYLSAVLCVFLFFYCVIRDVIYPYVYEKKDNTFRMAISIPNRIFPITAL TLLALVYSLVLLLPFYNCTEXTKYRRFPDWLDHWMLCRKQLGLVALGFAFL XVLXXLVIPIRYYVRXRLGNLTVTQXILKKENPFSTSSAWLSDSYVALGILGFF LFVLLGITSLPSVSNAVNWREFRFVQSKLGYLTLILCTAHTLVYGGKRFLSPSN LRWYLPAAYVLGLIIPCTVLVIKFVLIMPCVDNTLTRIRRAGKGTQNTRKSIE WKINI (SEQ ID NO: 162) and/or EKYPLQLFPMWRFPFYLSAVLCVFLFFYCVIRDVIYPYVYEKKDNTFR (SEQ ID NO: 161) or a fragment of one of the above-listed sequences. Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0168] The polypeptide encoded by this sequence appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein (which have multiple membrane spanning domains). As such this polypeptide may function as an ion channel protein or gap-junction protein.

[0169] This gene is expressed primarily in human placenta.

[0170] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, developmental and endocrine disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine system and developing tissues expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., endocrine, developing, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0171] The tissue distribution in placenta indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful as a hormone, a growth factor, for the induction of abortion or spontaneous abortions, for hyperplastic abnormalities, as a factor(s) involved in circulation, in nutrient transport, as a preventative of multiple gestation, to detect or treat gestational trophoblastic diseases, such as hydatidiform mole, as well as to detect placental trophoblastic tumors and choriocarcinomas. Furthermore, the tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of the placenta. Specific expression within the placenta indicates that this gene product may play a role in the proper establishment and maintenance of placental function.

[0172] Alternately, this gene product may be produced by the placenta and then transported to the embryo, where it may play a crucial role in the development and/or survival of the developing embryo or fetus. Expression of this gene product in a vascular-rich tissue such as the placenta also indicates that this gene product may be produced more generally in endothelial cells or within the circulation. In such instances, it may play more generalized roles in vascular function, such as in angiogenesis. It may also be produced in the vasculature and have effects on other cells within the circulation, such as hematopoietic cells. It may serve to promote the proliferation, survival, activation, and/or differentiation of hematopoietic cells, as well as other cells throughout the body.

[0173] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:29 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2067 of SEQ ID NO:29, b is an integer of 15 to 2081, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:29, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0174] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 20

[0175] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with human hepato-cellular carcinoma oncogene which may be used to produce recombinant oncoprotein and antibodies for screening and diagnosis of hepatic tumors. In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: KKTNKTKTYY (SEQ ID NO: 163). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0176] This gene is expressed primarily in primary dendritic cells.

[0177] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune or hematopoietic disorders, in addition to proliferative conditions, such as hepatic carcinoma. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine/immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, hepatic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, bile, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0178] The tissue distribution in primary dendritic cells, combined with the homology to human hepato-cellular carcinoma oncogene indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of hepatic carcinoma. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. Involvement in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes indicates a usefulness for treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Expression in cells of lymphoid origin, indicates the natural gene product is involved in immune functions. Therefore it would also be useful as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product is thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0179] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:30 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1248 of SEQ ID NO:30, b is an integer of 15 to 1262, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:30, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0180] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 21

[0181] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: RAPPSSVYQNQQARAQLXDFC (SEQ ID NO: 164). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0182] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is thought to reside on chromosome 16. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 16.

[0183] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal spleen and liver and to a lesser extent in a variety of other tissues of the immune system, such as neutrophils and monocytes.

[0184] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, hepatoblastoma, leukemias, lymphomas, liver metabolic diseases and other conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the liver and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0185] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, or all four of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 82 as residues: Gln-73 to Ser-83, Pro-1 16 to Gln-122, Met-130 to Tyr-136, Phe-146 to Thr-153. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0186] The tissue distribution in liver indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and treatment of liver disorders and cancers, as well as other immune disorders and conditions (e.g. hepatoblastoma, jaundice, hepatitis, leukemias, lymphomas, AIDS, arthritis, asthma, liver metabolic diseases and other conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells). Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0187] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:31 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1790 of SEQ ID NO:31, b is an integer of 15 to 1804, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:31, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0188] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 22

[0189] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with LAK-4p, which is thought to be important in T-cell activation.

[0190] When tested against SK and Reh cell lines, supernatants removed from cells containing this gene activated the GAS (gamma activating sequence) promoter element. Thus, it is likely that this gene activates myeloid cells, and to a lesser extent, other cells and tissue cell types, through the JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway. GAS is a promoter element found upstream of many genes which are involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. The Jak-STAT pathway is a large, signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells. Therefore, activation of the Jak-STAT pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells.

[0191] This gene is expressed primarily in ovarian cancer, and to a lesser extent in breast cancer and prostate tissue.

[0192] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cancer of the reproductive systems. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the reproductive systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0193] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, or all four of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 83 as residues: Phe-4 to Ala-10, Gln-142 to Pro-150, Glu-156 to Glu-161, Leu-177 to Ala-190. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0194] The tissue distribution and homology to LAK-4p indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of disorders of developing and growing systems, and cancers, including cancer of the reproductive system(s), as well as other tissues where expression has been indicated. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0195] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:32 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1447 of SEQ ID NO:32, b is an integer of 15 to 1461, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:32, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0196] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 23

[0197] The translation product of this gene shares distant homology to the mouse HC1 ORF (Genbank Accession No: g1333929).

[0198] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: TTCYLNTYMFNINTYIKFTCILNTYVKYIQCIYICTQY (SEQ ID NO: 165). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0199] This gene is expressed primarily in activated neutrophils.

[0200] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune diseases and/or disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0201] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 84 as residues: Thr-24 to Lys-29. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0202] The tissue distribution in neutrophils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of the immune system. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Expression of this gene product in neutrophils also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0203] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:33 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1100 of SEQ ID NO:33, b is an integer of 15 to 1114, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:33, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0204] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 24

[0205] This gene is expressed primarily in breast cancer tissue, testes, and macrophages.

[0206] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, reproductive and immune disorders, and cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the reproductive and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, breast milk, seminal fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0207] The tissue distribution in breast cancer tissue, as well as in testes, indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive system cancers, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been observed. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in testes indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function (e.g. endocrine function, sperm maturation), as well as cancer. Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of male infertility and/or impotence. This gene product is also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, as such agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents. Similarly, the protein is believed to be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancer. The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts that may be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of the body. Therefore, this gene product may be expressed in other specific tissues or organs where it may play related functional roles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, bone formation, and kidney function, to name a few possible target indications. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0208] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:34 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2221 of SEQ ID NO:34, b is an integer of 15 to 2235, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:34, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0209] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 25

[0210] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: CRNSARAPIKNLNPLPTQKHCVFL (SEQ ID NO: 166). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0211] This gene is expressed primarily in B-cell lymphoma, and to a lesser extent in human tonsils, fetal bone, and 8 week human embryo.

[0212] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly cancers of blood forming cells, particularly in B cell lymphomas. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the hematopoietic system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0213] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 86 as residues: Ile-69 to Pro-74. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0214] The tissue distribution in lymphomas indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosing and treating B cell lymphomas or other disorders of blood forming cells. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum.

[0215] The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0216] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:35 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1839 of SEQ ID NO:35, b is an integer of 15 to 1853, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:35, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0217] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 26

[0218] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: TRPKKEAGRISTVELQK (SEQ ID NO: 167). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0219] This gene is expressed primarily in retina and multiple sclerotic tissue.

[0220] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, muscular or visual disorders, particularly degenerative conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., muscle, visual, retinal, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, aqueous humor, vitreous humor, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0221] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 87 as residues: Leu-33 to Trp-38, Pro-64 to Lys-69. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0222] The tissue distribution in multiple sclerotic tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative muscle conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of various muscle disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, fibroids, myomas, and rhabdomyosarcomas. The protein would also be useful for the treatment, detection, and/or prevention of visual diseases and/or disorders, particularly macular degeneration. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0223] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:36 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1451 of SEQ ID NO:36, b is an integer of 15 to 1465, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:36, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0224] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 27

[0225] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: HERRHEAAGPAAP (SEQ ID NO: 168), MVPNQRPEPCALPHSSKLPKSKPPHDHTSCGHSLCPCASRTEAPGRPWGLLCR LHLHGRTEHSVCVAGQGSDSAKAAAHPSVQGEWNPHAGHLPFLPDPSLPLH VLVLWPPAGTKPAPSTLQHPILLQRGQCLPRSSSDLLVLSAVQEGSPAL (SEQ ID NO: 169), CALPHSSKLPKSKPPHDHTSC (SEQ ID NO: 170), EAPGRPWGLLCRLHLHGRTEHSVC (SEQ ID NO: 171), QGSDSAKAAAHPSVQGEWNPHAGHL (SEQ ID NO: 172), and/or APSTLQHPILLQRGQCLPRSSSDL (SEQ ID NO: 173). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0226] The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have two transmembrane domains at about amino acid position 119-135 and 182-198 of the amino acid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that the protein product of this gene shares structural features to type IIIa membrane proteins.

[0227] Included in this invention as preferred domains are eukaryotic thiol (cysteine) proteases histidine active site domains, which were identified using the ProSite analysis tool (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). Eukaryotic thiol proteases (EC 3.4.22.-) [1] are a family of proteolytic enzymes which contain an active site cysteine. Catalysis proceeds through a thioester intermediate and is facilitated by a nearby histidine side chain; an asparagine completes the essential catalytic triad. The consensus pattern is as follows: Q-x(3)-[GE]-x-C-[YW]-x(2)-[STAGC]-[STAGCV], [C is the active site residue].

[0228] Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: SVHAVLATGSG (SEQ ID NO: 174). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0229] Further preferred are polypeptides comprising the eukaryotic thiol (cysteine) proteases histidine active site domain of the sequence referenced in Table I for this gene, and at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or 75 additional contiguous amino acid residues of this referenced sequence. The additional contiguous amino acid residues may be N-terminal or C-terminal to the eukaryotic thiol (cysteine) proteases histidine active site domain. Alternatively, the additional contiguous amino acid residues may be both N-terminal and C-terminal to the eukaryotic thiol (cysteine) proteases histidine active site domain, wherein the total N- and C-terminal contiguous amino acid residues equal the specified number. The above preferred polypeptide domain is characteristic of a signature specific to eukaryotic thiol (cysteine) proteases histidine active site domain containing proteins. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with proteases. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein. The following publication was referenced above and is hereby incorporated herein by reference: [1] Dufour E., Biochimie 70:1335-1342(1988).

[0230] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal heart.

[0231] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, developmental, cardiovascular, or growth disorders, particularly atherosclerosis or congestive heart failure. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the circulatory system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., developmental, cardiovascular, growth, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, amniotic fluid, urine, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0232] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, or all four of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 88 as residues: Leu-23 to Asp-34, Cys-97 to Pro-106, Ser-202 to Gly-208, Pro-251 to Gly-257. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0233] The tissue distribution in fetal heart indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, and congestive heart failure. Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Moreover, the expression within fetal tissue indicates that this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. Similarly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Thus this protein may also be involved in apoptosis or tissue differentiation and could again be useful in cancer therapy. Protein may be useful in the treatment, detection, and/or prevention of a variety of vascular disorders, which include, but are not limited to microvascular disease, embolism, stroke, aneurysm, or vascular leak syndrome. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0234] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:37 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 971 of SEQ ID NO:37, b is an integer of 15 to 985, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:37, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0235] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 28

[0236] This gene is expressed primarily in apoptotic and activated T cells, and to a lesser extent in bone marrow, tonsils, brain and retina.

[0237] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, inflammatory, immune and nervous system defects. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0238] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 89 as residues: Tyr-52 to Glu-62. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0239] The tissue distribution in immune tissues such as T-cells, bone marrow, etc., indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study and treatment of neuroendocrine, infectious, and inflammatory and general immune disorders. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0240] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:38 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 705 of SEQ ID NO:38, b is an integer of 15 to 719, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:38, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0241] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 29

[0242] This gene is expressed primarily in uterus and fetal liver.

[0243] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, blood and urogenital conditions. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the hemapoietic and urogenital systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., uterus, liver/spleen, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0244] The tissue distribution in fetal liver/spleen and uterus indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study and treatment of immune, hemapoietic and urogenital disorders. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0245] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:39 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1255 of SEQ ID NO:39, b is an integer of 15 to 1269, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:39, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0246] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 30

[0247] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with F20D12.3 gene product [Caenorhabditis elegans]. In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: TRPVSCLTAGVLNPELGYDALLVGTQTNLLAYDVYNNSDLFYREVADGANA IVLGTLGDISSPLAIIGGNCALQGFNHEGSDLFWTVTGDNVNSLALCDFDGDG KKELLVGSEDFDIRVFKEDEIVAEMTETEIVTSLCPMYGSRFGYALSNGTVGV YDKTSRYWRIKSKNHAMSIHVFDLNSDGVNELITGWSNGKVDARSDRTGEVI FKDNFSSAIAGVVEGDYRMDGHIQLICCSVDGESKLG (SEQ ID NO: 175), TRPVSCLTAGVLNPELGYDALLVGTQTNLLAYDVYNNSDLFYREVADGANA I (SEQ ID NO: 176), VLGTLGDISSPLAIIGGNCALQGFNHEGSDLFWTVTGDNVNSLALCDFDGDG K (SEQ ID NO: 177), KELLVGSEDFDIRVFKEDEIVAEMTETEIVTSLCPMYGSRFGYALSNGTVGVY D (SEQ ID NO: 178), KTSRYWRIKSKNHAMSIHVFDLNSDGVNELITGWSNG (SEQ ID NO: 179), and/or KVDARSDRTGEVIFKDNFSSAIAGVVEGDYRMDGHIQLICCSVDGESKLG (SEQ ID NO: 180). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0248] The gene encoding the disclosed polynucleotide is believed to reside on chromosome 16. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 16.

[0249] This gene is expressed primarily in Soares_total_fetus_Nb2HF8_(—)9w, and to a lesser extent in Soares_fetal_lung_NbHL19W and Soares infant brain 1NIB.

[0250] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, developmental disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the fetal systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., fetal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0251] The tissue distribution in fetal tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of developmental disorders. Furthermore, expression within fetal tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates that this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. Similarly, fetal development also involves decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Thus this protein may also be involved in apoptosis or tissue differentiation and could again be useful in cancer therapy. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0252] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:40 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2514 of SEQ ID NO:40, b is an integer of 15 to 2528, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:40, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0253] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 31

[0254] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: HASGRGAGGGGGGGGRDPAGQVGTARSGCGRCRAGLGPPEPPASSPPSVGR MCAR (SEQ ID NO: 181). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0255] The gene encoding the disclosed polynucleotide is believed to reside on chromosome 1. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 11.

[0256] This gene is expressed primarily in Soares adult brain N2b4HB55Y, and to a lesser extent in larynx tumor, Soares retina N2b5HR, and endometrial stromal cells-treated with estradiol.

[0257] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neurodegenerative disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., brain, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0258] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or all twelve of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 92 as residues: Thr-6 to Tyr-13, Leu-70 to Glu-75, Arg-106 to Pro-114, Lys-142 to Gly-151, Ser-217 to Gly-224, Pro-237 to Gln-244, Lyg-308 to Thr-319, Thr-330 to Ser-336, Tyr-370 to Asp-380, Lys-414 to Arg-420, Glu-456 to Trp-461, Ala-477 to Arg-484. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0259] The tissue distribution in brain indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and behavioral disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0260] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:41 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1678 of SEQ ID NO:41, b is an integer of 15 to 1692, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:41, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0261] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 32

[0262] This gene is expressed primarily in rejected kidney tissue.

[0263] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, kidney rejections, and renal disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the renal system and organ rejection, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., renal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0264] The tissue distribution in rejected kidney tissue indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment of kidney rejections. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in kidney tissue indicates that this gene or gene product is useful in the treatment and/or detection of kidney diseases including renal failure, nephritis, renal tubular acidosis, proteinuria, pyuria, edema, pyelonephritis, hydronephritis, nephrotic syndrome, crush syndrome, glomerulonephritis, hematuria, renal colic and kidney stones, in addition to Wilm's Tumor Disease, and congenital kidney abnormalities such as horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney, and Falconi's syndrome. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0265] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:42 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1591 of SEQ ID NO:42, b is an integer of 15 to 1605, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:42, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0266] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 33

[0267] The translation product of this gene has homology to the SIR2 protein of Candida albicans (See Genbank Accession No.gi|3005095 (AF045774)), which is thought to be involved in silencing, cell cycle progression and chromosome stability. Such proteins also are known to metabolize NAD and may have protein ADP-Ribosyltransferase activity. Based on the sequence similarity, the translation product of this gene is expected to share at least some biological activities with SIR2 and SIR2-like proteins. Such activities are known in the art, some of which are described elsewhere herein. The protein of the present invention was recently published by another group confirming the homology to the SIR2 protein family and activities specific to SIR2 proteins (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 260 (1), 273-279 (1999); which is hereby incorporated herein by reference).

[0268] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: TTSPSWATSLLRGCQAKGPTKSRLMSSRGTELRTASVKLAKGSTSREVPR MSSRSAMGKSTTCSKNLWGSGSQRTQCRASQRRCRPGSGEPCLPSRQPECPP LGRVFGRLCRWQRQRFHELQPALRQGCPTLKFKPKRSVAAASEMSTQGQEH NFWAWQDSSLKPIDVLRVEPQKQPLVMKQPEKVVSDVGLVVSRVQLLGQSE KGLGVVKEEWEFKNGLGVREIVLLEVAVQATPRRSEVWNATGCADAGPHH DHHPLAGSGPNQLSYILQGKLPLVTAASTSNNT (SEQ ID NO: 182), LLRGCQAKGPTKSRLMSSRGTELRTA (SEQ ID NO: 183), MGKSTTCSKNLWGSGSQRTQCRA (SEQ ID NO: 184), GSGEPCLPSRQPECPPLGRVFGRLCR (SEQ ID NO: 185), PTLKFKPKRSVAAASEMSTQGQEH (SEQ ID NO: 186), WQDSSLKPIDVLRVEPQKQPLVMKQP (SEQ ID NO: 187), VAVQATPRRSEVWNATGCADAGP (SEQ ID NO: 188), DWLLSVSFAAVFFSVSIKGGRRSISFSVGASSVVGSGGSSDKGKLSLQDVAELI RARACQRVVVMVGAGISTPSGIPDFRSPGSGLYSNLQQYDLPYPEAIFELPFFF HNPKPFFTLAKELYPGNYKPNVTHYFLRLLHDKGLLLRLYTQNIDGLERGVL PSPEVVLLALRAHLGGGSNTSLWLEFQCRASLPQSWLKLMEPLPLPPAQSAK DPSQGRTFGLT (SEQ ID NO: 189), GGRRSISFSVGASSVVGSGGSS (SEQ ID NO: 190), KLSLQDVAELIRARACQRVVVMV (SEQ ID NO: 191), YSNLQQYDLPYPEAIFELPFFFHN (SEQ ID NO: 192), LYPGNYKPNVTHYFLRLLHDKGLL (SEQ ID NO: 193), LPSPEVVLLALRAHLGGGSNTSLWLEF (SEQ ID NO: 194), RDGRQGSPLPGLHRRCEARHCVLWEPLPQRFLLHVVDFPMADLLLILGTSLE VEPFASLTEAVRSSVPRLLINRDLVGPLAWHPRSRDVAQLGDVVHGVESLVE LLGWTEEMRDLVQRETGKLDGPDK (SEQ ID NO: 195), LPGLHRRCEARHCVLWEPLPQRFL (SEQ ID NO: 196), VVDFPMADLLLILGTSLEVEPFASL (SEQ ID NO: 197), LVGPLAWHPRSRDVAQLGDVVH (SEQ ID NO: 198), VESLVELLGWTEEMRDLVQRETG (SEQ ID NO: 199), ISVSGIPASKLVEAHGTFASATCTVCQRPFPGEDIRADVMADRVPRCPVCTGV VKPDIVFFGSRCPRGSCCMWLISPWQICCSSLGPPWRWSLLPA (SEQ ID NO: 200), EAHGTFASATCTVCQRPFPGEDIRADVMADRVP (SEQ ID NO: 201), and/or FFGSRCPRGSCCMWLISPWQICCSSLG (SEQ ID NO: 202). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0269] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 11. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 11.

[0270] This gene is expressed primarily in retina, and to a lesser extent, in the developing embryo, in fetal liver-spleen and brain.

[0271] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, vision, developmental, immune and neurological disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune, developmental, and nervous systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., vision, developmental, immune, neural, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, vitreous humor, aqueous humor, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0272] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 94 as residues: Gln-95 to Phe-103. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0273] The tissue distribution of this gene in retina, the developing embryo, in fetal liver-spleen, and in brain tissue indicates a role in the treatment and/or detection of vision defects including blindness, hyperopia, myopia, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, retinoblastoma and retinopathy; in the treatment/detection of immune disorders including such as arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, and leukemia; in addition to behavioral and nervous disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. Moreover, the expression within embryonic tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates that this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. Similarly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Thus this protein may also be involved in apoptosis or tissue differentiation and could again be useful in cancer therapy. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0274] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:43 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2446 of SEQ ID NO:43, b is an integer of 15 to 2460, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:43, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0275] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 34

[0276] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with glycosyl transferases, which are enzymes important fpr post-translational protein glycosylation, as well as sugar and nucleotide metabolism.

[0277] This gene is expressed primarily in colon cancer, macrophages and dendritic cells and to a lesser extent in various other transformed cell types.

[0278] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and inflammatory conditions and tumors. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the gastrointestinal and immune systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., gastrointestinal, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0279] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 95 as residues: Pro-4 to Trp-12. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0280] The tissue distribution in colon cancer indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the study and treatment of gastrointestinal and immune disorders and neoplasms. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in gastrointestinal tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of various metabolic disorders such as Tay-Sachs disease, phenylkenonuria, galactosemia, porphyrias, and Hurler's syndrome. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0281] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:44 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1503 of SEQ ID NO:44, b is an integer of 15 to 1517, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:44, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0282] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 35

[0283] This gene is expressed primarily in stromal-osteoclastoma, and to a lesser extent in Osteoblasts.

[0284] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, osteoarthritis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the skeletal system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., skeletal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0285] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 96 as residues: Pro-17 to His-22, Ser-29 to Ser-39. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0286] The tissue distribution in osteoclasts and osteoblasts indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis and related skeletal disorders. Furthermore, elevated levels of expression of this gene product in osteoclastoma and osteoblastoma indicates that it may play a role in the survival, proliferation, and/or growth of osteoclasts. Therefore, it may be useful in influencing bone mass in such conditions as osteoporosis. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0287] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:45 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 3066 of SEQ ID NO:45, b is an integer of 15 to 3080, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:45, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0288] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 36

[0289] Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: TRPLSPTFSKLWAAGVTVCTDFSMCVCGCMYECVCVFVCLCIYRGMRVPWV CTLDIPLYILCVLTWTHSVYLYCVYTHVQPICPYIGVCVYYVCTLSTYGCVCV PLSPYLGERENVCVCVSMYGCVDILCLYLECRYMDVHVLCVCVRTHTLPLC VCACVYLVCPCIGGVCTLLVYVWGSTCSL (SEQ ID NO: 203). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0290] This gene is expressed in rejected kidney, bone marrow, osteoarthritis, and cells of the immune system.

[0291] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune and hematopoietic diseases and/or disorders, particularly osteoarthritis and lymphoma. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune and hematopoetic systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., skeletal, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0292] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 97 as residues: Ile-44 to Glu-50. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0293] The tissue distribution in rejected kidney and immune system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions of the immune system, as well as organ rejection(s). Furthermore, the expression observed predominantly in hematopoietic cells also indicates that the polynucleotides or polypeptides are important in treating and/or detecting hematopoietic disorders, such as graft versus host reaction, graft versus host disease, transplant rejection, myelogenous leukemia, bone marrow fibrosis, and myeloproliferative disease. The polypeptides or polynucleotides are also useful to enhance or protect proliferation, differentiation, and functional activation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (e.g., bone marrow cells), useful in treating cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

[0294] The polypeptides or polynucleotides are also useful to increase the proliferation of peripheral blood leukocytes, which can be used in the combat of a range of hematopoietic disorders, including immunodeficiency diseases, leukemia, and septicemia. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tissue-specific marker and/or immunotherapy target for the above listed tissues.

[0295] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:46 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2190 of SEQ ID NO:46, b is an integer of 15 to 2204, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:46, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0296] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 37

[0297] This gene is expressed in tonsils, adipocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and brain.

[0298] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, central nervous system and immune system disorders, cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., central nervous system, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0299] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 98 as residues: Thr-19 to Thr-25. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0300] The tissue distribution in central nervous system and immune system tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative and immune system disorders as well as cancers of these tissues, in addition to cancers of other tissues where expression has been observed. Furthermore, the tissue distribution in brain indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states and behavioral disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, or sexually-linked disorders. Additionally, the tissue distribution in immune tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Expression of this gene product in tonsils indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of potentially all hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0301] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:47 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1984 of SEQ ID NO:47, b is an integer of 15 to 1998, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:47, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0302] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 38

[0303] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is thought to reside on chromosome 19. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 19.

[0304] This gene is expressed primarily in tissues and cells of endothelial origin.

[0305] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular/pulmonary disorders, such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, thrombosis, cystic fibrosis pulmonary fibrosis. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the cardiovascular system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., vascular, endothelial, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0306] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, or all four of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 99 as residues: His-34 to Leu-42, Arg-52 to His-57, Gln-74 to Leu-79, Gly-91 to Gly-97. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0307] The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, and respiratory or pulmonary disorders such as asthma, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, atherosclerosis, restenosis, stoke, angina, thrombosis hypertension, inflammation and wound healing. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tissue-specific marker and/or immunotherapy target for the above listed tissues.

[0308] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:48 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2055 of SEQ ID NO:48, b is an integer of 15 to 2069, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:48, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0309] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 39

[0310] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: ASLIFSSPLSPLLTSPSSSICSVRPLGIVMITCFHSRCHLKQRPASPNGVFQQRA (SEQ ID NO: 204), AHLSPTAALHVAQGESLSTDVECRVPGLMLTLLLAVHQQILVG (SEQ ID NO: 205), LPVQVGWSLCNTDGPKLLCGRQGLMLLTGHHCQASKHKSQGL (SEQ ID NO: 206), and/or ASLIFSSPLSPLLTSPSSSICSVRPLGIVMITCFHSRCHLKQRPASPNGVFQQRAA HLSPTAALHVAQGESLSTDVECRVPGLMLTLLLAVHQQILVGLPVQVGWSLC NTDGPKLLCGRQGLMLLTGHHCQASKHKSQGL (SEQ ID NO: 207). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0311] This gene is expressed primarily in neutrophils.

[0312] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immunodeficiency, infection, lymphomas, auto-immunities, cancer, metastasis, wound healing, inflammation, anemias (leukemia) and other hematopoietic disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0313] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 100 as residues: Thr-49 to Asn-55, Cys-86 to His-107. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0314] The tissue distribution in neutrophils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders including: leukemias, lymphomas, auto-immunities, immunodeficiencies (e.g. AIDS), immuno-supressive conditions (transplantation) and hematopoietic disorders. In addition this gene product may be applicable in conditions of general microbial infection, inflammation or cancer. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0315] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:49 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 910 of SEQ ID NO:49, b is an integer of 15 to 924, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:49, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0316] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 40

[0317] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal spleen and liver, and to a lesser extent in T-cells and primary dendritic cells.

[0318] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, hepatoblastoma, leukemias, lymphomas, liver metabolic diseases and other conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the liver and immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., liver, immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0319] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or all eight of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 101 as residues: Lys-34 to Glu-39, Ile-47 to Ser-53, Pro-106 to Leu-111, Pro-140 to Gly-146, Glu-195 to Gly-204, Leu-281 to Thr-288, Glu-291 to Arg-297, Tyr-302 to Ile-308. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0320] The tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and treatment of liver disorders and cancers, as well as other immune disorders and conditions (e.g. hepatoblastoma, jaundice, hepatitis, leukemias, lymphomas, AIDS, arthritis, asthma, liver metabolic diseases and other conditions that are attributable to the differentiation of hepatocyte progenitor cells). Furthermore, the tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of hematopoietic disorders. This gene product is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and tissues, suggesting that it plays a role in the survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation of hematopoietic lineages. This is particularly supported by the expression of this gene product in fetal liver, which is a primary site of definitive hematopoiesis. Expression of this gene product in T cells and primary dendritic cells also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0321] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:50 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2506 of SEQ ID NO:50, b is an integer of 15 to 2520, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:50, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0322] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 41

[0323] This gene is expressed primarily in T-cells.

[0324] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0325] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 102 as residues: Gly-31 to Thr-51. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0326] The tissue distribution in T-cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection and/or treatment of immune system disorders. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0327] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:51 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 3323 of SEQ ID NO:51, b is an integer of 15 to 3337, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:5 1, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0328] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 42

[0329] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence VEAEWLQDVGLSTLISGDEEEDGKALLSTLTRTQAAAVQKRYHTYTQTMRK KDKQSIRDVRDIFGVSESPPRDTCGNHTNQLDGTKEERELPRVIKTSGSMPDD ASLNSTTLSDASQDKEGSFAVPRSDSVAILETIPVLPVHSNGSPEPGQPVQNAI SDDDFLEKNIXPEAEELSFEVSYSEMVTEALKRNKLKKSEIKKEDYVLTKFN XQKTRFGLT (SEQ ID NO: 208), VEAEWLQDVGLSTLISGDEEEDGKALLSTLTRTQAAAVQKRYHTYTQTMR (SEQ ID NO: 209), KKDKQSIRDVRDIFGVSESPPRDTCGNHTNQLDGTKEERELPRVIKTSGSMPD D (SEQ ID NO: 210), ASLNSTTLSDASQDKEGSFAVPRSDSVAILETIPVLPVHSNGSPEPGQPVQN (SEQ ID NO: 211), and/or AISDDDFLEKNIXPEAEELSFEVSYSEMVTEALKRNKLKKSEIKKEDYVLTKF NXQKTRFGLT (SEQ ID NO: 212). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0330] This gene is expressed with a limited tissue distribution; primarily in testes, and to a lesser extent in embryo and adipose tissue.

[0331] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, disorders of the reproductive systems and developing systems. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the developing and reproductive systems, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., testes, reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0332] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one or both of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 103 as residues: Pro-27 to Ser-37, Ser-94 to Arg-99. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0333] The tissue distribution in testes and embryonic tissues indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the reproductive and developing systems. Furthermore, the tissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function (e.g. endocrine function, sperm maturation), as well as cancer. Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of male infertility and/or impotence. This gene product is also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, as such agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents. Similarly, the protein is believed to be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancer. The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts that may be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of the body. Therefore, this gene product may be expressed in other specific tissues or organs where it may play related functional roles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, bone formation, and kidney function, to name a few possible target indications.

[0334] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:52 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1933 of SEQ ID NO:52, b is an integer of 15 to 1947, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:52, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0335] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 43

[0336] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: LAQTVTDMPLTGTNHDRQGHLLRSGTTYYLLA (SEQ ID NO: 213). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0337] This gene is expressed primarily in white blood cells.

[0338] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune or hematopoietic disorders, particularly T-cell and B-cell leukemia. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0339] The tissue distribution in white blood cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and treatment of T-cell and B-cell leukemia. Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Expression of this gene product indicates a role in the regulation of the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product may be involved in immune functions. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, scleroderma and tissues. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0340] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:53 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 720 of SEQ ID NO:53, b is an integer of 15 to 734, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:53, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0341] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 44

[0342] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with human atrial natriuretic peptide factor (ANF) gene which is thought to be important in diagnosis of a form of hereditary hypertension.

[0343] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: LSFLELDSECS (SEQ ID NO: 214). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent Conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0344] This gene is expressed primarily in CD43 positive white blood cells, and to a lesser extent in endothelial cells, colon, and liver.

[0345] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune, hematopoietic, or vascular disorders, particularly hypertension. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, hematopoietic, vascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0346] The tissue distribution in endothelial cells, combined with the homology to the human atrial natriuretic peptide factor (ANF) gene indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis of hypertension. Moreover, the protein is useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of a variety of vascular disorders, which include, but are not limited to the following, microvascular disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, aneurysm, or embolism, in addition to cardiovascular disorders. Based upon the tissue distribution of this protein, antagonists directed against this protein may be useful in blocking the activity of this protein. Accordingly, preferred are antibodies which specifically bind a portion of the translation product of this gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting tumors in which expression of this protein occurs. Such a kit comprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is a method of detecting these tumors in an individual which comprises a step of contacting an antibody specific for the translation product of this gene to a bodily fluid from the individual, preferably serum, and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in the bodily fluid. Preferably the antibody is bound to a solid support and the bodily fluid is serum.

[0347] The above embodiments, as well as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), are more particularly described elsewhere herein. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0348] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:54 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1168 of SEQ ID NO:54, b is an integer of 15 to 1182, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:54, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0349] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 45

[0350] This gene is expressed primarily in induced neutrophils.

[0351] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune system disorders, cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0352] The tissue distribution in neutrophils indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of immune system disorders and cancers of the immune system, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has been observed. Furthermore, this gene product may be involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or other processes that may also suggest a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the gene or protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues. Therefore it may be also used as an agent for immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, and psoriasis. In addition, this gene product may have commercial utility in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types. Expression of this gene product in neutrophils also strongly indicates a role for this protein in immune function and immune surveillance. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0353] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:55 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1852 of SEQ ID NO:55, b is an integer of 15 to 1866, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:55, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0354] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 46

[0355] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homology with the hippocampal cholinergic neurotrophic peptide (HCNP), in addition to the phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (See Genbank Accession No. gi|406292) which are thought to be important in normal neurological functions of the hippocampus. Members of this family of proteins are thought to play integral roles in signalling, sensory perception, and may be associated with the modulation/detection of pain or similar stimuli. In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: WWSLETRMRTARVPMRPSWTRTPSFARALKFSTQSWGTLAARLFLIVTTTDR RSPPGWKPIVKFPGAVDGATYNPGDGGSRCP (SEQ ID NO: 215), MRTARVPMRPSWTRTPSFAR (SEQ ID NO: 216), PGWKPIVKFPGAVDGATYNPG (SEQ ID NO: 217), SSSRGPWTAQPIILVMVDPDAPSRAEPRQRFWRHWLVTDIKGADLKKGKIQG QELSAYQAPSPPAHSGFHRYQFFVYLQEGKVISLLPKENKTRGSWKMDRFLN RFHLGEPEASTQFMTQNYQDSPTLQAPRERASEPKHKNQAEIAAC (SEQ ID NO: 218), PIILVMVDPDAPSRAEPRQRFWRH (SEQ ID NO: 219), KIQGQELSAYQAPSPPAHSGFHR (SEQ ID NO: 220), ISLLPKENKTRGSWKMDRFL (SEQ ID NO: 221), PEVPMGWT (SEQ ID NO: 223), and/or QELSAYQAPSPPAHSGF (SEQ ID NO: 222). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0356] Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence: MRLVTAALLLGLMMVVTGDEDENSPCAHEALLDEDTLFCQGLEVFYPELGNI GCKVVPDCNNYRQKITSWMEADSQVPGGRGRRNL (SEQ ID NO: 224). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0357] This gene is expressed primarily in parathyroid tumor, prostate, and brain.

[0358] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, neural, endocrine, or reproductive disorders, particularly neurodegenerative disorders and dementia e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the central nervous system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, endocrine, reproductive, prostatic, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, seminal fluid, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0359] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, or alternatively consist of one, two, or all three of the immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 107 as residues: Asp-23 to Cys-30, Asp-63 to Ile-71, Pro-97 to Trp-110. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0360] The tissue distribution in brain and parathyroid, combined with the homology to the hippocampal cholinergic neurotrophic peptide, HCNP; indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and dementia, e.g., Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection/treatment of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflamatory conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates that it plays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Moreover, the gene or gene product may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection of developmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, sexually-linked disorders, or disorders of the cardiovascular system. Polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful in the regulation of signalling pathways, particularly pathways involving G-protein coupled receptors or pathways involving calcium activation. In addition, the protein is useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of reproductive disorders, such as infertility. The protein may be useful as a contraceptive. The protein is also useful for the modulation of pain stimuli. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0361] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:56 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1014 of SEQ ID NO:56, b is an integer of 15 to 1028, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:56, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0362] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 47

[0363] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequences: PILWGNRVPMEPQKCHPAGWHGLGQEAEAGDQDGRWRPGLPQRKRPPAGA GQAWLSCHRHMVERGVPCPPWGGGTRALVYSDAG (SEQ ID NO: 225), PMEPQKCHPAGWHGLGQEAEAGDQDG (SEQ ID NO: 226), AGAGQAWLSCHRHMVERGVPCPPWGGGT (SEQ ID NO: 227), SPXTHVQGQTGMYVIWGLGGGLPRGHPPLLGPPWPDPFCGETGCPWSLRNA TRL VGMAWGRRQRQETKMAGGGQAYHNGRDLPLGPGRPGSAATGIWWRGGYP AHLGVVAPELLSIQTLVWGLGPLTGDRASVGEF (SEQ ID NO: 228), WGLGGGLPRGHPPLLGPPWPDPFCG (SEQ ID NO: 229), QRQETKMAGGGQAYHNGRDLPLGPGR (SEQ ID NO: 230), and/or HLGVVAPELLSIQTLVWGLG (SEQ ID NO: 231). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides) are encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0364] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside on chromosome 17. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention are useful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 17.

[0365] This gene is expressed primarily in ovary, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, and to a lesser extent, in various regions of the brain.

[0366] Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful as reagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases and conditions which include, but are not limited to, immune, reproductive, or neural diseases or disorders, particularly female fertility disorders and neurodegenerative conditions. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the immune system and female reproductive system, expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., reproductive, immune, hematopoietic, neural, development, and cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or cell sample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0367] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise immunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 108 as residues: Arg-4 to Cys-13. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention. Moreover, antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are also included as nonexclusive embodiments of the invention.

[0368] The tissue distribution of this gene in ovary, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and brain indicates a role for the gene product in the treatment and/or detection of reproductive disorders and/or immune disorders such as arthritis, asthma, immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, in addition to neurodegenerative disease states and behavioral disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorders. The protein may also be useful in the treatment/prevention/detection of endocrine disorders. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0369] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some of these sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:57 and may have been publicly available prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence is cumbersome. Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one or more polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1840 of SEQ ID NO:57, b is an integer of 15 to 1854, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:57, and where b is greater than or equal to a +14. TABLE 1 5′ NT NT of AA First Last ATCC SEQ 5′ NT 3′ NT 5′ NT First SEQ AA AA First Last Deposit ID Total of of of AA of ID of of AA of AA Gene cDNA No: Z NO: NT Clone Clone Start Signal NO: Sig Sig Secreted of No. Clone ID and Date Vector X Seq. Seq. Seq. Codon Pep Y Pep Pep Portion ORF 1 HLICQ90 203517 pCMVSportl 11 1766 1 1766 249 249 62 1 29 30 206 12/10/98 2 HNTSM04 203499 pSportl 12 2667 1 2667 147 147 63 1 20 21 108 12/01/98 3 HMCAL59 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 13 2170 1 2170 52 52 64 1 24 25 286 12/10/98 4 HMACO04 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 14 1190 406 1190 576 576 65 1 20 21 85 12/10/98 5 HMAHY59 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 15 1735 50 1735 293 293 66 1 35 36 302 12/01/98 6 HFXLL52 203499 Lambda ZAP 16 1274 1 1274 111 111 67 1 17 18 149 12/01/98 II 7 HKABY55 203517 pCMVSport 17 1921 234 1921 336 336 68 1 48 49 357 12/10/98 2.0 8 HCQCF36 203499 Lambda ZAP 18 692 1 692 200 200 69 1 23 24 111 12/01/98 II 9 HTADO22 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 19 1500 1 1500 259 259 70 1 21 22 183 12/01/98 10 HHFHD92 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 20 2136 1 2136 192 192 71 1 36 37 253 12/01/98 11 HNGFW58 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 21 1547 1 1547 279 279 72 1 28 29 99 12/10/98 12 HOEFV61 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 22 2657 1 2657 64 64 73 1 13 14 180 12/10/98 13 HPIAQ68 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 23 2466 1 2466 20 20 74 1 22 23 62 12/10/98 14 HNFFY60 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 24 2495 1 2495 65 65 75 1 26 27 73 12/01/98 15 HWBAS39 203499 pCMVSport 25 3244 1 3197 279 279 76 1 20 21 130 12/01/98 3.0 16 HE8EW79 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 26 1362 1 1362 20 20 77 1 46 47 107 12/01/98 16 HE8EW79 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 58 1349 1 1349 8 8 109 1 46 47 209 12/01/98 17 HTTDF41 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 27 1381 1 1381 66 66 78 1 16 17 125 12/10/98 17 HTTDF41 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 59 1072 9 1072 62 62 110 1 16 17 215 12/10/98 18 HSSGJ45 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 28 2527 1 2509 33 33 79 1 31 32 218 12/01/98 18 HSSGJ45 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 60 2508 1 2508 25 25 111 1 31 32 276 12/01/98 19 HLWBY76 203517 pCMVSport 29 2081 1 2081 432 432 80 1 28 29 232 12/10/98 3.0 20 HDPBN34 203499 pCMVSport 30 1262 1 1262 32 32 81 1 19 20 121 12/10/98 3.0 21 HMSHY73 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 31 1804 81 1094 100 100 82 1 33 34 154 12/10/98 22 HPRBF19 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 32 1461 1 1461 63 63 83 1 31 32 190 12/10/98 23 HNFJE06 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 33 1114 31 1114 354 354 84 1 17 18 72 12/01/98 24 HCHCF61 203499 pSportl 34 2235 17 2235 33 33 85 1 25 26 42 12/01/98 25 HBJLH40 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 35 1853 1 1853 74 74 86 1 30 31 74 12/01/98 26 HDPMV72 203499 pCMVSport 36 1465 1 1465 54 54 87 1 39 40 125 12/01/98 3.0 27 HEMFA84 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 37 985 1 985 42 42 88 1 17 18 257 12/01/98 28 HTOHW95 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 38 719 1 719 77 77 89 1 32 33 121 12/01/98 29 HUNAH63 203517 pBluescript 39 1269 1 1269 91 91 90 1 23 24 87 12/10/98 SK- 30 HISBT59 203517 pSportl 40 2528 1 2514 142 142 91 1 27 28 82 12/10/98 31 HNTAS52 203517 pCMVSport 41 1692 1 1692 167 167 92 1 32 33 508 12/10/98 3.0 32 HRACM44 203499 pCMVSport 42 1605 1 1605 175 175 93 1 22 23 47 12/01/98 3.0 33 HFPES77 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 43 2460 1 2460 57 57 94 1 22 23 119 12/01/98 34 HUSXU29 203517 pSportl 44 1517 172 1517 321 321 95 1 28 29 289 12/10/98 35 HOHBB49 203517 pCMVSport 45 3080 1 3080 148 148 96 1 19 20 48 12/10/98 2.0 36 HRABX31 203499 pCMVSport 46 2204 1 2204 197 197 97 1 43 44 117 12/01/98 3.0 37 HROBD68 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 47 1998 1 1998 122 122 98 1 22 23 48 12/01/98 38 HMHBE18 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 48 2069 1 2069 29 29 99 1 24 25 123 12/10/98 39 HNHDY2I 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 49 924 1 924 208 208 100 1 26 27 131 12/10/98 40 HOEBZ89 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 50 2520 1 2520 19 19 101 1 21 22 333 12/10/98 41 HYAAJ71 203517 pCMVSport 51 3337 1 3337 190 190 102 1 31 32 62 12/10/98 3.0 42 HTEKS16 203517 Uni-ZAP XR 52 1947 21 1845 176 176 103 1 25 26 99 12/10/98 43 HCUFX40 203499 ZAP Express 53 734 1 734 115 115 104 1 29 30 86 12/01/98 44 HCWDL75 203499 ZAP Express 54 1182 97 1182 351 351 105 1 27 28 82 12/01/98 45 HNHKJ57 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 55 1866 1 1866 158 158 106 1 37 38 44 12/01/98 46 HCMSS06 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 56 1028 91 1028 153 153 107 1 22 23 227 12/01/98 46 HCMSS06 203499 Uni-ZAP XR 61 952 2 952 75 75 112 1 25 26 86 12/01/98 47 HIBCE35 203499 Other 57 1854 227 1830 409 409 108 1 36 37 65 12/01/98

[0370] Table 1 summarizes the information corresponding to each “Gene No.” described above. The nucleotide sequence identified as “NT SEQ ID NO:X” was assembled from partially homologous (“overlapping”) sequences obtained from the “cDNA clone ID” identified in Table 1 and, in some cases, from additional related DNA clones. The overlapping sequences were assembled into a single contiguous sequence of high redundancy (usually three to five overlapping sequences at each nucleotide position), resulting in a final sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X.

[0371] The cDNA Clone ID was deposited on the date and given the corresponding deposit number listed in “ATCC Deposit No:Z and Date.” Some of the deposits contain multiple different clones corresponding to the same gene. “Vector” refers to the type of vector contained in the cDNA Clone ID.

[0372] “Total NT Seq.” refers to the total number of nucleotides in the contig identified by “Gene No.” The deposited clone may contain all or most of these sequences, reflected by the nucleotide position indicated as “5′ NT of Clone Seq.” and the “3′ NT of Clone Seq.” of SEQ ID NO:X. The nucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the putative start codon (methionine) is identified as “5′ NT of Start Codon.” Similarly, the nucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the predicted signal sequence is identified as “5′ NT of First AA of Signal Pep.”

[0373] The translated amino acid sequence, beginning with the methionine, is identified as “AA SEQ ID NO:Y,” although other reading frames can also be easily translated using known molecular biology techniques. The polypeptides produced by these alternative open reading frames are specifically contemplated by the present invention.

[0374] The first and last amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the predicted signal peptide is identified as “First AA of Sig Pep” and “Last AA of Sig Pep.” The predicted first amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the secreted portion is identified as “Predicted First AA of Secreted Portion.” Finally, the amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of the last amino acid in the open reading frame is identified as “Last AA of ORF.”

[0375] SEQ ID NO:X (where X may be any of the polynucleotide sequences disclosed in the sequence listing) and the translated SEQ ID NO:Y (where Y may be any of the polypeptide sequences disclosed in the sequence listing) are sufficiently accurate and otherwise suitable for a variety of uses well known in the art and described further below. For instance, SEQ ID NO:X is useful for designing nucleic acid hybridization probes that will detect nucleic acid sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA contained in the deposited clone. These probes will also hybridize to nucleic acid molecules in biological samples, thereby enabling a variety of forensic and diagnostic methods of the invention. Similarly, polypeptides identified from SEQ ID NO:Y may be used, for example, to generate antibodies which bind specifically to proteins containing the polypeptides and the secreted proteins encoded by the cDNA clones identified in Table 1.

[0376] Nevertheless, DNA sequences generated by sequencing reactions can contain sequencing errors. The errors exist as misidentified nucleotides, or as insertions or deletions of nucleotides in the generated DNA sequence. The erroneously inserted or deleted nucleotides cause frame shifts in the reading frames of the predicted amino acid sequence. In these cases, the predicted amino acid sequence diverges from the actual amino acid sequence, even though the generated DNA sequence may be greater than 99.9% identical to the actual DNA sequence (for example, one base insertion or deletion in an open reading frame of over 1000 bases).

[0377] Accordingly, for those applications requiring precision in the nucleotide sequence or the amino acid sequence, the present invention provides not only the generated nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X and the predicted translated amino acid sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:Y, but also a sample of plasmid DNA containing a human cDNA of the invention deposited with the ATCC, as set forth in Table 1. The nucleotide sequence of each deposited clone can readily be determined by sequencing the deposited clone in accordance with known methods. The predicted amino acid sequence can then be verified from such deposits. Moreover, the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by a particular clone can also be directly determined by peptide sequencing or by expressing the protein in a suitable host cell containing the deposited human cDNA, collecting the protein, and determining its sequence.

[0378] The present invention also relates to the genes corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or the deposited clone. The corresponding gene can be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequence information disclosed herein. Such methods include preparing probes or primers from the disclosed sequence and identifying or amplifying the corresponding gene from appropriate sources of genomic material.

[0379] Also provided in the present invention are allelic variants, orthologs, and/or species homologs. Procedures known in the art can be used to obtain full-length genes, allelic variants, splice variants, full-length coding portions, orthologs, and/or species homologs of genes corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or a deposited clone, using information from the sequences disclosed herein or the clones deposited with the ATCC. For example, allelic variants and/or species homologs may be isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from the sequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid source for allelic variants and/or the desired homologue.

[0380] The polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitable manner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurring polypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, synthetically produced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination of these methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understood in the art.

[0381] The polypeptides may be in the form of the secreted protein, including the mature form, or may be a part of a larger protein, such as a fusion protein (see below). It is often advantageous to include an additional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification, such as multiple histidine residues, or an additional sequence for stability during recombinant production.

[0382] The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably provided in an isolated form, and preferably are substantially purified. A recombinantly produced version of a polypeptide, including the secreted polypeptide, can be substantially purified using techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, by the one-step method described in Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31-40 (1988). Polypeptides of the invention also can be purified from natural, synthetic or recombinant sources using techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, antibodies of the invention raised against the secreted protein.

[0383] The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising, or alternatively consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:X, and/or a cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. The present invention also provides a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively, consisting of, the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. Polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively consisting of the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z are also encompassed by the invention.

[0384] Signal Sequences

[0385] The present invention also encompasses mature forms of the polypeptide having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or the polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone. Polynucleotides encoding the mature forms (such as, for example, the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotide sequence contained in the cDNA of a deposited clone) are also encompassed by the invention. According to the signal hypothesis, proteins secreted by mammalian cells have a signal or secretary leader sequence which is cleaved from the mature protein once export of the growing protein chain across the rough endoplasmic reticulum has been initiated. Most mammalian cells and even insect cells cleave secreted proteins with the same specificity. However, in some cases, cleavage of a secreted protein is not entirely uniform, which results in two or more mature species of the protein. Further, it has long been known that cleavage specificity of a secreted protein is ultimately determined by the primary structure of the complete protein, that is, it is inherent in the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.

[0386] Methods for predicting whether a protein has a signal sequence, as well as the cleavage point for that sequence, are available. For instance, the method of McGeoch, Virus Res. 3:271-286 (1985), uses the information from a short N-terminal charged region and a subsequent uncharged region of the complete (uncleaved) protein. The method of von Heinje, Nucleic Acids Res. 14:4683-4690 (1986) uses the information from the residues surrounding the cleavage site, typically residues −13 to +2, where +1 indicates the amino terminus of the secreted protein. The accuracy of predicting the cleavage points of known mammalian secretory proteins for each of these methods is in the range of 75-80%. (von Heinje, supra.) However, the two methods do not always produce the same predicted cleavage point(s) for a given protein.

[0387] In the present case, the deduced amino acid sequence of the secreted polypeptide was analyzed by a computer program called SignalP (Henrik Nielsen et al., Protein Engineering 10:1-6 (1997)), which predicts the cellular location of a protein based on the amino acid sequence. As part of this computational prediction of localization, the methods of McGeoch and von Heinje are incorporated. The analysis of the amino acid sequences of the secreted proteins described herein by this program provided the results shown in Table 1.

[0388] As one of ordinary skill would appreciate, however, cleavage sites sometimes vary from organism to organism and cannot be predicted with absolute certainty. Accordingly, the present invention provides secreted polypeptides having a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y which have an N-terminus beginning within 5 residues (i.e., + or −5 residues) of the predicted cleavage point. Similarly, it is also recognized that in some cases, cleavage of the signal sequence from a secreted protein is not entirely uniform, resulting in more than one secreted species. These polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are contemplated by the present invention.

[0389] Moreover, the signal sequence identified by the above analysis may not necessarily predict the naturally occurring signal sequence. For example, the naturally occurring signal sequence may be further upstream from the predicted signal sequence. However, it is likely that the predicted signal sequence will be capable of directing the secreted protein to the ER. Nonetheless, the present invention provides the mature protein produced by expression of the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotide sequence contained in the cDNA of a deposited clone, in a mammalian cell (e.g., COS cells, as desribed below). These polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, are contemplated by the present invention.

[0390] Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Variants

[0391] The present invention is directed to variants of the polynucleotide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X, the complementary strand thereto, and/or the cDNA sequence contained in a deposited clone.

[0392] The present invention also encompasses variants of the polypeptide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:Y and/or encoded by a deposited clone.

[0393] “Variant” refers to a polynucleotide or polypeptide differing from the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention, but retaining essential properties thereof. Generally, variants are overall closely similar, and, in many regions, identical to the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention.

[0394] The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid molecules which comprise, or alternatively consist of, a nucleotide sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for example, the nucleotide coding sequence in SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, the nucleotide coding sequence contained in a deposited cDNA clone or the complementary strand thereto, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone, and/or polynucleotide fragments of any of these nucleic acid molecules (e.g., those fragments described herein). Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acid molecules under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency conditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides.

[0395] The present invention is also directed to polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identical to, for example, the polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y, the polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone, and/or polypeptide fragments of any of these polypeptides (e.g., those fragments described herein).

[0396] By a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence of the present invention, it is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the nucleic acid is identical to the reference sequence except that the nucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide. In other words, to obtain a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. The query sequence may be an entire sequence shown inTable 1, the ORF (open reading frame), or any fragment specified as described herein.

[0397] As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule or polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to a nucleotide sequence of the presence invention can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determining the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are both DNA sequences. An RNA sequence can be compared by converting U's to T's. The result of said global sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB alignment of DNA sequences to calculate percent identiy are: Matrix=Unitary, k-tuple=4, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=30, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty 0.05, Window Size=500 or the lenght of the subject nucleotide sequence, whichever is shorter.

[0398] If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence because of 5′ or 3′ deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correction must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does not account for 5′ and 3′ truncations of the subject sequence when calculating percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the 5′ or 3′ ends, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of bases of the query sequence that are 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a nucleotide is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This corrected score is what is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only bases outside the 5′ and 3′ bases of the subject sequence, as displayed by the FASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, are calculated for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score.

[0399] For example, a 90 base subject sequence is aligned to a 100 base query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletions occur at the 5′ end of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a matched/alignment of the first 10 bases at 5′ end. The 10 unpaired bases represent 10% of the sequence (number of bases at the 5′ and 3′ ends not matched/total number of bases in the query sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 bases were perfectly matched the final percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 base subject sequence is compared with a 100 base query sequence. This time the deletions are internal deletions so that there are no bases on the 5′ or 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected. Once again, only bases 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence are manually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for the purposes of the present invention.

[0400] By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example, 95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence of the present invention, it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subject polypeptide is identical to the query sequence except that the subject polypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100 amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a query amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in the subject sequence may be inserted, deleted, (indels) or substituted with another amino acid. These alterations of the reference sequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among residues in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

[0401] As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, an amino acid sequences shown in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:Y) or to the amino acid sequence encoded by cDNA contained in a deposited clone can be determined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferred method for determing the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are either both nucleotide sequences or both amino acid sequences. The result of said global sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB amino acid alignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Window Size=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty=0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino acid sequence, whichever is shorter.

[0402] If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence due to N- or C-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correction must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does not account for N- and C-terminal truncations of the subject sequence when calculating global percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the N- and C-termini, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of residues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminal of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with a corresponding subject residue, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a residue is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This final percent identity score is what is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only residues to the N- and C-termini of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, are considered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score. That is, only query residue positions outside the farthest N- and C-terminal residues of the subject sequence.

[0403] For example, a 90 amino acid residue subject sequence is aligned with a 100 residue query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletion occurs at the N-terminus of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a matching/alignment of the first 10 residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% of the sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini not matched/total number of residues in the query sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched the final percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 residue subject sequence is compared with a 100 residue query sequence. This time the deletions are internal deletions so there are no residues at the N- or C-termini of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with the query. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected. Once again, only residue positions outside the N- and C-terminal ends of the subject sequence, as displayed in the FASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequnce are manually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for the purposes of the present invention.

[0404] The variants may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotide variants containing alterations which produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred. Moreover, variants in which 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, or added in any combination are also preferred. Polynucleotide variants can be produced for a variety of reasons, e.g., to optimize codon expression for a particular host (change codons in the human mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host such as E. coli).

[0405] Naturally occurring variants are called “allelic variants,” and refer to one of several alternate forms of a gene occupying a given locus on a chromosome of an organism. (Genes II, Lewin, B., ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York (1985).) These allelic variants can vary at either the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide level and are included in the present invention. Alternatively, non-naturally occurring variants may be produced by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

[0406] Using known methods of protein engineering and recombinant DNA technology, variants may be generated to improve or alter the characteristics of the polypeptides of the present invention. For instance, one or more amino acids can be deleted from the N-terminus or C-terminus of the secreted protein without substantial loss of biological function. The authors of Ron et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 2984-2988 (1993), reported variant KGF proteins having heparin binding activity even after deleting 3, 8, or 27 amino-terminal amino acid residues. Similarly, Interferon gamma exhibited up to ten times higher activity after deleting 8-10 amino acid residues from the carboxy terminus of this protein. (Dobeli et al., J. Biotechnology 7:199-216 (1988).)

[0407] Moreover, ample evidence demonstrates that variants often retain a biological activity similar to that of the naturally occurring protein. For example, Gayle and coworkers (J. Biol. Chem 268:22105-22111 (1993)) conducted extensive mutational analysis of human cytokine IL-1a. They used random mutagenesis to generate over 3,500 individual IL-1a mutants that averaged 2.5 amino acid changes per variant over the entire length of the molecule. Multiple mutations were examined at every possible amino acid position. The investigators found that “[m]ost of the molecule could be altered with little effect on either [binding or biological activity].” (See, Abstract.) In fact, only 23 unique amino acid sequences, out of more than 3,500 nucleotide sequences examined, produced a protein that significantly differed in activity from wild-type.

[0408] Furthermore, even if deleting one or more amino acids from the N-terminus or C-terminus of a polypeptide results in modification or loss of one or more biological functions, other biological activities may still be retained. For example, the ability of a deletion variant to induce and/or to bind antibodies which recognize the secreted form will likely be retained when less than the majority of the residues of the secreted form are removed from the N-terminus or C-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking N- or C-terminal residues of a protein retains such immunogenic activities can readily be determined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known in the art.

[0409] Thus, the invention further includes polypeptide variants which show substantial biological activity. Such variants include deletions, insertions, inversions, repeats, and substitutions selected according to general rules known in the art so as have little effect on activity. For example, guidance concerning how to make phenotypically silent amino acid substitutions is provided in Bowie et al., Science 247:1306-1310 (1990), wherein the authors indicate that there are two main strategies for studying the tolerance of an amino acid sequence to change.

[0410] The first strategy exploits the tolerance of amino acid substitutions by natural selection during the process of evolution. By comparing amino acid sequences in different species, conserved amino acids can be identified. These conserved amino acids are likely important for protein function. In contrast, the amino acid positions where substitutions have been tolerated by natural selection indicates that these positions are not critical for protein function. Thus, positions tolerating amino acid substitution could be modified while still maintaining biological activity of the protein.

[0411] The second strategy uses genetic engineering to introduce amino acid changes at specific positions of a cloned gene to identify regions critical for protein function. For example, site directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (introduction of single alanine mutations at every residue in the molecule) can be used. (Cunningham and Wells, Science 244:1081-1085 (1989).) The resulting mutant molecules can then be tested for biological activity.

[0412] As the authors state, these two strategies have revealed that proteins are surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions. The authors further indicate which amino acid changes are likely to be permissive at certain amino acid positions in the protein. For example, most buried (within the tertiary structure of the protein) amino acid residues require nonpolar side chains, whereas few features of surface side chains are generally conserved. Moreover, tolerated conservative amino acid substitutions involve replacement of the aliphatic or hydrophobic amino acids Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; replacement of the hydroxyl residues Ser and Thr; replacement of the acidic residues Asp and Glu; replacement of the amide residues Asn and Gln, replacement of the basic residues Lys, Arg, and His; replacement of the aromatic residues Phe, Tyr, and Trp, and replacement of the small-sized amino acids Ala, Ser, Thr, Met, and Gly.

[0413] Besides conservative amino acid substitution, variants of the present invention include (i) substitutions with one or more of the non-conserved amino acid residues, where the substituted amino acid residues may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii) substitution with one or more of amino acid residues having a substituent group, or (iii) fusion of the mature polypeptide with another compound, such as a compound to increase the stability and/or solubility of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or (iv) fusion of the polypeptide with additional amino acids, such as, for example, an IgG Fc fusion region peptide, or leader or secretory sequence, or a sequence facilitating purification. Such variant polypeptides are deemed to be within the scope of those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

[0414] For example, polypeptide variants containing amino acid substitutions of charged amino acids with other charged or neutral amino acids may produce proteins with improved characteristics, such as less aggregation. Aggregation of pharmaceutical formulations both reduces activity and increases clearance due to the aggregate's immunogenic activity. (Pinckard et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2:331-340 (1967); Robbins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845 (1987); Cleland et al., Crit. Rev. Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10:307-377 (1993).)

[0415] A further embodiment of the invention relates to a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence of the present invention having an amino acid sequence which contains at least one amino acid substitution, but not more than 50 amino acid substitutions, even more preferably, not more than 40 amino acid substitutions, still more preferably, not more than 30 amino acid substitutions, and still even more preferably, not more than 20 amino acid substitutions. Of course, in order of ever-increasing preference, it is highly preferable for a peptide or polypeptide to have an amino acid sequence which comprises the amino acid sequence of the present invention, which contains at least one, but not more than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acid substitutions. In specific embodiments, the number of additions, substitutions, and/or deletions in the amino acid sequence of the present invention or fragments thereof (e.g., the mature form and/or other fragments described herein), is 1-5, 5-10, 5-25, 5-50, 10-50 or 50-150, conservative amino acid substitutions are preferable.

[0416] Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Fragments

[0417] The present invention is also directed to polynucleotide fragments of the polynucleotides of the invention.

[0418] In the present invention, a “polynucleotide fragment” refers to a short polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence which: is a portion of that contained in a deposited clone, or encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone; is a portion of that shown in SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, or is a portion of a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y. The nucleotide fragments of the invention are preferably at least about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt, at least about 50 nt, at least about 75 nt, or at least about 150 nt in length. A fragment “at least 20 nt in length,” for example, is intended to include 20 or more contiguous bases from the cDNA sequence contained in a deposited clone or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:X. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited value, a value larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. These nucleotide fragments have uses that include, but are not limited to, as diagnostic probes and primers as discussed herein. Of course, larger fragments (e.g., 50, 150, 500, 600, 2000 nucleotides) are preferred.

[0419] Moreover, representative examples of polynucleotide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a sequence from about nucleotide number 1-50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200, 201-250, 251-300, 301-350, 351-400, 401450, 451-500, 501-550, 551-600, 651-700, 701-750, 751-800, 800-850, 851-900, 901-950, 951-1000, 1001-1050, 1051-1100, 1101-1150, 1151-1200, 1201-1250, 1251-1300, 1301-1350, 1351-1400, 1401-1450, 1451-1500, 1501-1550, 1551-1600, 1601-1650, 1651-1700, 1701-1750, 1751-1800, 1801-1850, 1851-1900, 1901-1950, 1951-2000, or 2001 to the end of SEQ ID NO:X, or the complementary strand thereto, or the cDNA contained in a deposited clone. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges, and ranges larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. Preferably, these fragments encode a polypeptide which has biological activity. More preferably, these polynucleotides can be used as probes or primers as discussed herein. Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acid molecules under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency conditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides.

[0420] In the present invention, a “polypeptide fragment” refers to an amino acid sequence which is a portion of that contained in SEQ ID NO:Y or encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone. Protein (polypeptide) fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within a larger polypeptide of which the fragment forms a part or region, most preferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples of polypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of, from about amino acid number 1-20, 2140, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 102-120, 121-140, 141-160, or 161 to the end of the coding region. Moreover, polypeptide fragments can be about 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, or 150 amino acids in length. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited ranges or values, and ranges or values larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) amino acids, at either extreme or at both extremes. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0421] Preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein as well as the mature form. Further preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein or the mature form having a continuous series of deleted residues from the amino or the carboxy terminus, or both. For example, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-60, can be deleted from the amino terminus of either the secreted polypeptide or the mature form. Similarly, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-30, can be deleted from the carboxy terminus of the secreted protein or mature form. Furthermore, any combination of the above amino and carboxy terminus deletions are preferred. Similarly, polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also preferred.

[0422] Also preferred are polypeptide and polynucleotide fragments characterized by structural or functional domains, such as fragments that comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheet and beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil and coil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alpha amphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions, surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenic index regions. Polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:Y falling within conserved domains are specifically contemplated by the present invention. Moreover, polynucleotides encoding these domains are also contemplated.

[0423] Other preferred polypeptide fragments are biologically active fragments. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of the polypeptide of the present invention. The biological activity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable activity. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also encompassed by the invention.

[0424] Preferably, the polynucleotide fragments of the invention encode a polypeptide which demonstrates a functional activity. By a polypeptide demonstrating a “functional activity” is meant, a polypeptide capable of displaying one or more known functional activities associated with a full-length (complete) polypeptide of invention protein. Such functional activities include, but are not limited to, biological activity, antigenicity [ability to bind (or compete with a polypeptide of the invention for binding) to an antibody to the polypeptide of the invention], immunogenicity (ability to generate antibody which binds to a polypeptide of the invention), ability to form multimers with polypeptides of the invention, and ability to bind to a receptor or ligand for a polypeptide of the invention.

[0425] The functional activity of polypeptides of the invention, and fragments, variants derivatives, and analogs thereof, can be assayed by various methods.

[0426] For example, in one embodiment where one is assaying for the ability to bind or compete with full-length polypeptide of the invention for binding to an antibody of the polypeptide of the invention, various immunoassays known in the art can be used, including but not limited to, competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitation reactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidal gold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots, precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutination assays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays, immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresis assays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected by detecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, the primary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondary antibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment, the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art for detecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of the present invention.

[0427] In another embodiment, where a ligand for a polypeptide of the invention identified, or the ability of a polypeptide fragment, variant or derivative of the invention to multimerize is being evaluated, binding can be assayed, e.g., by means well-known in the art, such as, for example, reducing and non-reducing gel chromatography, protein affinity chromatography, and affinity blotting. See generally, Phizicky, E., et al., 1995, Microbiol. Rev. 59:94-123. In another embodiment, physiological correlates of binding of a polypeptide of the invention to its substrates (signal transduction) can be assayed.

[0428] In addition, assays described herein (see Examples) and otherwise known in the art may routinely be applied to measure the ability of polypeptides of the invention and fragments, variants derivatives and analogs thereof to elicit related biological activity related to that of the polypeptide of the invention (either in vitro or in vivo). Other methods will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Epitopes and Antibodies

[0429] The present invention encompasses polypeptides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, an epitope of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y, or an epitope of the polypeptide sequence encoded by a polynucleotide sequence contained in ATCC deposit No. Z or encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the complement of the sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or contained in ATCC deposit No. Z under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency hybridization conditions as defined supra. The present invention further encompasses polynucleotide sequences encoding an epitope of a polypeptide sequence of the invention (such as, for example, the sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X), polynucleotide sequences of the complementary strand of a polynucleotide sequence encoding an epitope of the invention, and polynucleotide sequences which hybridize to the complementary strand under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency hybridization conditions defined supra.

[0430] The term “epitopes,” as used herein, refers to portions of a polypeptide having antigenic or immunogenic activity in an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably in a human. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention encompasses a polypeptide comprising an epitope, as well as the polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide. An “immunogenic epitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein that elicits an antibody response in an animal, as determined by any method known in the art, for example, by the methods for generating antibodies described infra. (See, for example, Geysen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002 (1983)). The term “antigenic epitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein to which an antibody can immunospecifically bind its antigen as determined by any method well known in the art, for example, by the immunoassays described herein. Immunospecific binding excludes non-specific binding but does not necessarily exclude cross-reactivity with other antigens. Antigenic epitopes need not necessarily be immunogenic.

[0431] Fragments which function as epitopes may be produced by any conventional means. (See, e.g., Houghten, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:5131-5135 (1985), further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,211).

[0432] In the present invention, antigenic epitopes preferably contain a sequence of at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, more preferably at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, and, most preferably, between about 15 to about 30 amino acids. Preferred polypeptides comprising immunogenic or antigenic epitopes are at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 amino acid residues in length. Additional non-exclusive preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as portions thereof. Antigenic epitopes are useful, for example, to raise antibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind the epitope. Preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, five or more of these antigenic epitopes. Antigenic epitopes can be used as the target molecules in immunoassays. (See, for instance, Wilson et al., Cell 37:767-778 (1984); Sutcliffe et al., Science 219:660-666 (1983)).

[0433] Similarly, immunogenic epitopes can be used, for example, to induce antibodies according to methods well known in the art. (See, for instance, Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra; Chow et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:910-914; and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol. 66:2347-2354 (1985). Preferred immunogenic epitopes include the immunogenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, five or more of these immunogenic epitopes. The polypeptides comprising one or more immunogenic epitopes may be presented for eliciting an antibody response together with a carrier protein, such as an albumin, to an animal system (such as rabbit or mouse), or, if the polypeptide is of sufficient length (at least about 25 amino acids), the polypeptide may be presented without a carrier. However, immunogenic epitopes comprising as few as 8 to 10 amino acids have been shown to be sufficient to raise antibodies capable of binding to, at the very least, linear epitopes in a denatured polypeptide (e.g., in Western blotting).

[0434] Epitope-bearing polypeptides of the present invention may be used to induce antibodies according to methods well known in the art including, but not limited to, in vivo immunization, in vitro immunization, and phage display methods. See, e.g., Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra, and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol., 66:2347-2354 (1985). If in vivo immunization is used, animals may be immunized with free peptide; however, anti-peptide antibody titer may be boosted by coupling the peptide to a macromolecular carrier, such as keyhole limpet hemacyanin (KLH) or tetanus toxoid. For instance, peptides containing cysteine residues may be coupled to a carrier using a linker such as maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), while other peptides may be coupled to carriers using a more general linking agent such as glutaraldehyde. Animals such as rabbits, rats and mice are immunized with either free or carrier-coupled peptides, for instance, by intraperitoneal and/or intradermal injection of emulsions containing about 100 μg of peptide or carrier protein and Freund's adjuvant or any other adjuvant known for stimulating an immune response. Several booster injections may be needed, for instance, at intervals of about two weeks, to provide a useful titer of anti-peptide antibody which can be detected, for example, by ELISA assay using free peptide adsorbed to a solid surface. The titer of anti-peptide antibodies in serum from an immunized animal may be increased by selection of anti-peptide antibodies, for instance, by adsorption to the peptide on a solid support and elution of the selected antibodies according to methods well known in the art.

[0435] As one of skill in the art will appreciate, and as discussed above, the polypeptides of the present invention comprising an immunogenic or antigenic epitope can be fused to other polypeptide sequences. For example, the polypeptides of the present invention may be fused with the constant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM), or portions thereof (CH1, CH2, CH3, or any combination thereof and portions thereof) resulting in chimeric polypeptides. Such fusion proteins may facilitate purification and may increase half-life in vivo. This has been shown for chimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. See, e.g., EP 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature, 331:84-86 (1988). Enhanced delivery of an antigen across the epithelial barrier to the immune system has been demonstrated for antigens (e.g., insulin) conjugated to an FcRn binding partner such as IgG or Fc fragments (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 96/22024 and WO 99/04813). IgG Fusion proteins that have a disulfide-linked dimeric structure due to the IgG portion desulfide bonds have also been found to be more efficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules than monomeric polypeptides or fragments thereof alone. See, e.g., Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem., 270:3958-3964 (1995). Nucleic acids encoding the above epitopes can also be recombined with a gene of interest as an epitope tag (e.g., the hemagglutinin (“HA”) tag or flag tag) to aid in detection and purification of the expressed polypeptide. For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allows for the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human cell lines (Janknecht et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-897). In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the open reading frame of the gene is translationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consisting of six histidine residues. The tag serves as a matrix binding domain for the fusion protein. Extracts from cells infected with the recombinant vaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni2+ nitriloacetic acid-agarose column and histidine-tagged proteins can be selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffers.

[0436] Additional fusion proteins of the invention may be generated through the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”). DNA shuffling may be employed to modulate the activities of polypeptides of the invention, such methods can be used to generate polypeptides with altered activity, as well as agonists and antagonists of the polypeptides. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793; 5,811,238; 5,830,721; 5,834,252; and 5,837,458, and Patten et al., Curr. Opinion Biotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82 (1998); Hansson, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); and Lorenzo and Blasco, Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998) (each of these patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). In one embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involves the assembly of two or more DNA segments by homologous or site-specific recombination to generate variation in the polynucleotide sequence. In another embodiment, polynucleotides of the invention, or the encoded polypeptides, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior to recombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention may be recombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules.

[0437] Antibodies

[0438] Further polypeptides of the invention relate to antibodies and T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) which immunospecifically bind a polypeptide, polypeptide fragment, or variant of SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or an epitope, of the present invention (as determined by immunoassays well known in the art for assaying specific antibody-antigen binding). Antibodies of the invention include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, multispecific, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′) fragments, fragments produced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodies to antibodies of the invention), and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above. The term “antibody,” as used herein, refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., molecules that contain an antigen binding site that immunospecifically binds an antigen. The immunoglobulin molecules of the invention can be of any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule.

[0439] Most preferably the antibodies are human antigen-binding antibody fragments of the present invention and include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs (scFv), single-chain antibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv) and fragments comprising either a VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibody fragments, including single-chain antibodies, may comprise the variable region(s) alone or in combination with the entirety or a portion of the following: hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. Also included in the invention are antigen-binding fragments also comprising any combination of variable region(s) with a hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. The antibodies of the invention may be from any animal origin including birds and mammals. Preferably, the antibodies are human, murine (e.g., mouse and rat), donkey, ship rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, or chicken. As used herein, “human” antibodies include antibodies having the amino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodies isolated from human immunoglobulin libraries or from animals transgenic for one or more human immunoglobulin and that do not express endogenous immunoglobulins, as described infra and, for example in, U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,598 by Kucherlapati et al.

[0440] The antibodies of the present invention may be monospecific, bispecific, trispecific or of greater multispecificity. Multispecific antibodies may be specific for different epitopes of a polypeptide of the present invention or may be specific for both a polypeptide of the present invention as well as for a heterologous epitope, such as a heterologous polypeptide or solid support material. See, e.g., PCT publications WO 93/17715; WO 92/08802; WO 91/00360; WO 92/05793; Tutt, et al., J. Immunol. 147:60-69 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,893; 4,714,681; 4,925,648; 5,573,920; 5,601,819; Kostelny et al., J. Immunol. 148:1547-1553 (1992).

[0441] Antibodies of the present invention may be described or specified in terms of the epitope(s) or portion(s) of a polypeptide of the present invention which they recognize or specifically bind. The epitope(s) or polypeptide portion(s) may be specified as described herein, e.g., by N-terminal and C-terminal positions, by size in contiguous amino acid residues, or listed in the Tables and Figures. Antibodies which specifically bind any epitope or polypeptide of the present invention may also be excluded. Therefore, the present invention includes antibodies that specifically bind polypeptides of the present invention, and allows for the exclusion of the same.

[0442] Antibodies of the present invention may also be described or specified in terms of their cross-reactivity. Antibodies that do not bind any other analog, ortholog, or homolog of a polypeptide of the present invention are included. Antibodies that bind polypeptides with at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, at least 55%, and at least 50% identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of the present invention are also included in the present invention. In specific embodiments, antibodies of the present invention cross-react with murine, rat and/or rabbit homologs of human proteins and the corresponding epitopes thereof. Antibodies that do not bind polypeptides with less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 85%, less than 80%, less than 75%, less than 70%, less than 65%, less than 60%, less than 55%, and less than 50% identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of the present invention are also included in the present invention. In a specific embodiment, the above-described cross-reactivity is with respect to any single specific antigenic or immunogenic polypeptide, or combination(s) of 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the specific antigenic and/or immunogenic polypeptides disclosed herein. Further included in the present invention are antibodies which bind polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides which hybridize to a polynucleotide of the present invention under stringent hybridization conditions (as described herein). Antibodies of the present invention may also be described or specified in terms of their binding affinity to a polypeptide of the invention. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻² M, 10⁻² M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³ M, 5×10⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵ M, 10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁶ M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁷ M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹ M, 5×10⁻¹⁰ M, 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×10⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹² M, 10⁻¹² M, 5×10⁻¹³ M, 10⁻¹³ M, 5×10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M, 5×10⁻¹⁵ M,

[0443] The invention also provides antibodies that competitively inhibit binding of an antibody to an epitope of the invention as determined by any method known in the art for determining competitive binding, for example, the, immunoassays described herein. In preferred embodiments, the antibody competitively inhibits binding to the epitope by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.

[0444] Antibodies of the present invention may act as agonists or antagonists of the polypeptides of the present invention. For example, the present invention includes antibodies which disrupt the receptor/ligand interactions with the polypeptides of the invention either partially or fully. Preferrably, antibodies of the present invention bind an antigenic epitope disclosed herein, or a portion thereof. The invention features both receptor-specific antibodies and ligand-specific antibodies. The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which do not prevent ligand binding but prevent receptor activation. Receptor activation (i.e., signaling) may be determined by techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art. For example, receptor activation can be determined by detecting the phosphorylation (e.g., tyrosine or serine/threonine) of the receptor or its substrate by immunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis (for example, as described supra). In specific embodiments, antibodies are provided that inhibit ligand activity or receptor activity by at least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50% of the activity in absence of the antibody.

[0445] The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which both prevent ligand binding and receptor activation as well as antibodies that recognize the receptor-ligand complex, and, preferably, do not specifically recognize the unbound receptor or the unbound ligand. Likewise, included in the invention are neutralizing antibodies which bind the ligand and prevent binding of the ligand to the receptor, as well as antibodies which bind the ligand, thereby preventing receptor activation, but do not prevent the ligand from binding the receptor. Further included in the invention are antibodies which activate the receptor. These antibodies may act as receptor agonists, i.e., potentiate or activate either all or a subset of the biological activities of the ligand-mediated receptor activation, for example, by inducing dimerization of the receptor. The antibodies may be specified as agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for biological activities comprising the specific biological activities of the peptides of the invention disclosed herein. The above antibody agonists can be made using methods known in the art. See, e.g., PCT publication WO 96/40281; U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,097; Deng et al., Blood 92(6):1981-1988 (1998); Chen et al., Cancer Res. 58(16):3668-3678 (1998); Harrop et al., J. Immunol. 161(4): 1786-1794 (1998); Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214 (1998); Yoon et al., J. Immunol. 160(7):3170-3179 (1998); Prat et al., J. Cell. Sci. 111(Pt2):237-247 (1998); Pitard et al., J. Immunol. Methods 205(2):177-190 (1997); Liautard et al., Cytokine 9(4):233-241 (1997); Carlson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272(17): 11295-11301 (1997); Taryman et al., Neuron 14(4):755-762 (1995); Muller et al., Structure 6(9):1153-1167 (1998); Bartunek et al., Cytokine 8(1):14-20 (1996) (which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties).

[0446] Antibodies of the present invention may be used, for example, but not limited to, to purify, detect, and target the polypeptides of the present invention, including both in vitro and in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic methods. For example, the antibodies have use in immunoassays for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring levels of the polypeptides of the present invention in biological samples. See, e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988) (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

[0447] As discussed in more detail below, the antibodies of the present invention may be used either alone or in combination with other compositions. The antibodies may further be recombinantly fused to a heterologous polypeptide at the N- or C-terminus or chemically conjugated (including covalently and non-covalently conjugations) to polypeptides or other compositions. For example, antibodies of the present invention may be recombinantly fused or conjugated to molecules useful as labels in detection assays and effector molecules such as heterologous polypeptides, drugs, radionuclides, or toxins. See, e.g., PCT publications WO 92/08495; WO 91/14438; WO 89/12624; U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,995; and EP 396,387.

[0448] The antibodies of the invention include derivatives that are modified, i.e, by the covalent attachment of any type of molecule to the antibody such that covalent attachment does not prevent the antibody from generating an anti-idiotypic response. For example, but not by way of limitation, the antibody derivatives include antibodies that have been modified, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation, phosphylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to a cellular ligand or other protein, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including, but not limited to specific chemical cleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin, etc. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non-classical amino acids.

[0449] The antibodies of the present invention may be generated by any suitable method known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies to an antigen-of-interest can be produced by various procedures well known in the art. For example, a polypeptide of the invention can be administered to various host animals including, but not limited to, rabbits, mice, rats, etc. to induce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies specific for the antigen. Various adjuvants may be used to increase the immunological response, depending on the host species, and include but are not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful human adjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacterium parvum. Such adjuvants are also well known in the art.

[0450] Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using a wide variety of techniques known in the art including the use of hybridoma, recombinant, and phage display technologies, or a combination thereof. For example, monoclonal antibodies can be produced using hybridoma techniques including those known in the art and taught, for example, in Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling, et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties). The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein is not limited to antibodies produced through hybridoma technology. The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody that is derived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic, prokaryotic, or phage clone, and not the method by which it is produced.

[0451] Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies using hybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art and are discussed in detail in the Examples (e.g., Example 16). In a non-limiting example, mice can be immunized with a polypeptide of the invention or a cell expressing such peptide. Once an immune response is detected, e.g., antibodies specific for the antigen are detected in the mouse serum, the mouse spleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. The splenocytes are then fused by well known techniques to any suitable myeloma cells, for example cells from cell line SP20 available from the ATCC. Hybridomas are selected and cloned by limited dilution. The hybridoma clones are then assayed by methods known in the art for cells that secrete antibodies capable of binding a polypeptide of the invention. Ascites fluid, which generally contains high levels of antibodies, can be generated by immunizing mice with positive hybridoma clones.

[0452] Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of generating monoclonal antibodies as well as antibodies produced by the method comprising culturing a hybridoma cell secreting an antibody of the invention wherein, preferably, the hybridoma is generated by fusing splenocytes isolated from a mouse immunized with an antigen of the invention with myeloma cells and then screening the hybridomas resulting from the fusion for hybridoma clones that secrete an antibody able to bind a polypeptide of the invention.

[0453] Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated by known techniques. For example, Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of the invention may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of immunoglobulin molecules, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). F(ab′)2 fragments contain the variable region, the light chain constant region and the CH1 domain of the heavy chain.

[0454] For example, the antibodies of the present invention can also be generated using various phage display methods known in the art. In phage display methods, functional antibody domains are displayed on the surface of phage particles which carry the polynucleotide sequences encoding them. In a particular embodiment, such phage can be utilized to display antigen binding domains expressed from a repertoire or combinatorial antibody library (e.g., human or murine). Phage expressing an antigen binding domain that binds the antigen of interest can be selected or identified with antigen, e.g., using labeled antigen or antigen bound or captured to a solid surface or bead. Phage used in these methods are typically filamentous phage including fd and M13 binding domains expressed from phage with Fab, Fv or disulfide stabilized Fv antibody domains recombinantly fused to either the phage gene III or gene VIII protein. Examples of phage display methods that can be used to make the antibodies of the present invention include those disclosed in Brinkman et al., J. Immunol. Methods 182:41-50 (1995); Ames et al., J. Immunol. Methods 184:177-186 (1995); Kettleborough et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:952-958 (1994); Persic et al., Gene 187 9-18 (1997); Burton et al., Advances in Immunology 57:191-280 (1994); PCT application No. PCT/GB91/01134; PCT publications WO 90/02809; WO 91/10737; WO 92/01047; WO 92/18619; WO 93/11236; WO 95/15982; WO 95/20401; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,426; 5,223,409; 5,403,484; 5,580,717; 5,427,908; 5,750,753; 5,821,047; 5,571,698; 5,427,908; 5,516,637; 5,780,225; 5,658,727; 5,733,743 and 5,969,108; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0455] As described in the above references, after phage selection, the antibody coding regions from the phage can be isolated and used to generate whole antibodies, including human antibodies, or any other desired antigen binding fragment, and expressed in any desired host, including mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast, and bacteria, e.g., as described in detail below. For example, techniques to recombinantly produce Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments can also be employed using methods known in the art such as those disclosed in PCT publication WO 92/22324; Mullinax et al., BioTechniques 12(6):864-869 (1992); and Sawai et al., AJRI 34:26-34 (1995); and Better et al., Science 240:1041-1043 (1988) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties).

[0456] Examples of techniques which can be used to produce single-chain Fvs and antibodies include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,778 and 5,258,498; Huston et al., Methods in Enzymology 203:46-88 (1991); Shu et al., PNAS 90:7995-7999 (1993); and Skerra et al., Science 240:1038-1040 (1988). For some uses, including in vivo use of antibodies in humans and in vitro detection assays, it may be preferable to use chimeric, humanized, or human antibodies. A chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions of the antibody are derived from different animal species, such as antibodies having a variable region derived from a murine monoclonal antibody and a human immunoglobulin constant region. Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. See e.g., Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Gillies et al., (1989) J. Immunol. Methods 125:191-202; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,715; 4,816,567; and 4,816,397, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Humanized antibodies are antibody molecules from non-human species antibody that binds the desired antigen having one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from the non-human species and a framework regions from a human immunoglobulin molecule. Often, framework residues in the human framework regions will be substituted with the corresponding residue from the CDR donor antibody to alter, preferably improve, antigen binding. These framework substitutions are identified by methods well known in the art, e.g., by modeling of the interactions of the CDR and framework residues to identify framework residues important for antigen binding and sequence comparison to identify unusual framework residues at particular positions. (See, e.g., Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.) Antibodies can be humanized using a variety of techniques known in the art including, for example, CDR-grafting (EP 239,400; PCT publication WO 91/09967; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539; 5,530,101; and 5,585,089), veneering or resurfacing (EP 592,106; EP 519,596; Padlan, Molecular Immunology 28(4/5):489498 (1991); Studnicka et al., Protein Engineering 7(6):805-814 (1994); Roguska. et al., PNAS 91:969-973 (1994)), and chain shuffling (U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332).

[0457] Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable for therapeutic treatment of human patients. Human antibodies can be made by a variety of methods known in the art including phage display methods described above using antibody libraries derived from human immunoglobulin sequences. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and 4,716,111; and PCT publications WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893, WO 98/16654, WO 96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0458] Human antibodies can also be produced using transgenic mice which are incapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, but which can express human immunoglobulin genes. For example, the human heavy and light chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introduced randomly or by homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells. Alternatively, the human variable region, constant region, and diversity region may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition to the human heavy and light chain genes. The mouse heavy and light chain immunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately or simultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci by homologous recombination. In particular, homozygous deletion of the JH region prevents endogenous antibody production. The modified embryonic stem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts to produce chimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then bred to produce homozygous offspring which express human antibodies. The transgenic mice are immunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., all or a portion of a polypeptide of the invention. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen can be obtained from the immunized, transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology. The human immunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrange during B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switching and somatic mutation. Thus, using such a technique, it is possible to produce therapeutically useful IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies. For an overview of this technology for producing human antibodies, see Lonberg and Huszar, Int. Rev. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995). For a detailed discussion of this technology for producing human antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies and protocols for producing such antibodies, see, e.g., PCT publications WO 98/24893; WO 92/01047; WO 96/34096; WO 96/33735; European Patent No. 0 598 877; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,923; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,569,825; 5,661,016; 5,545,806; 5,814,318; 5,885,793; 5,916,771; and 5,939,598, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. In addition, companies such as Abgenix, Inc. (Freemont, Calif.) and Genpharm (San Jose, Calif.) can be engaged to provide human antibodies directed against a selected antigen using technology similar to that described above.

[0459] Completely human antibodies which recognize a selected epitope can be generated using a technique referred to as “guided selection.” In this approach a selected non-human monoclonal antibody, e.g., a mouse antibody, is used to guide the selection of a completely human antibody recognizing the same epitope. (Jespers et al., Bio/technology 12:899-903 (1988)).

[0460] Further, antibodies to the polypeptides of the invention can, in turn, be utilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic” polypeptides of the invention using techniques well known to those skilled in the art. (See, e.g., Greenspan & Bona, FASEB J. 7(5):437-444; (1989) and Nissinoff, J. Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438 (1991)). For example, antibodies which bind to and competitively inhibit polypeptide multimerization and/or binding of a polypeptide of the invention to a ligand can be used to generate anti-idiotypes that “mimic” the polypeptide multimerization and/or binding domain and, as a consequence, bind to and neutralize polypeptide and/or its ligand. Such neutralizing anti-idiotypes or Fab fragments of such anti-idiotypes can be used in therapeutic regimens to neutralize polypeptide ligand. For example, such anti-idiotypic antibodies can be used to bind a polypeptide of the invention and/or to bind its ligands/receptors, and thereby block its biological activity.

[0461] Polynucleotides Encoding Antibodies

[0462] The invention further provides polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antibody of the invention and fragments thereof. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides that hybridize under stringent or lower stringency hybridization conditions, e.g., as defined supra, to polynucleotides that encode an antibody, preferably, that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention, preferably, an antibody that binds to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0463] The polynucleotides may be obtained, and the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotides determined, by any method known in the art. For example, if the nucleotide sequence of the antibody is known, a polynucleotide encoding the antibody may be assembled from chemically synthesized oligonucleotides (e.g., as described in Kutmeier et al., BioTechniques 17:242 (1994)), which, briefly, involves the synthesis of overlapping oligonucleotides containing portions of the sequence encoding the antibody, annealing and ligating of those oligonucleotides, and then amplification of the ligated oligonucleotides by PCR.

[0464] Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding an antibody may be generated from nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clone containing a nucleic acid encoding a particular antibody is not available, but the sequence of the antibody molecule is known, a nucleic acid encoding the immunoglobulin may be chemically synthesized or obtained from a suitable source (e.g., an antibody cDNA library, or a cDNA library generated from, or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+ RNA, isolated from, any tissue or cells expressing the antibody, such as hybridoma cells selected to express an antibody of the invention) by PCR amplification using synthetic primers hybridizable to the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sequence or by cloning using an oligonucleotide probe specific for the particular gene sequence to identify, e.g., a cDNA clone from a cDNA library that encodes the antibody. Amplified nucleic acids generated by PCR may then be cloned into replicable cloning vectors using any method well known in the art.

[0465] Once the nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the antibody is determined, the nucleotide sequence of the antibody may be manipulated using methods well known in the art for the manipulation of nucleotide sequences, e.g., recombinant DNA techniques, site directed mutagenesis, PCR, etc. (see, for example, the techniques described in Sambrook et al., 1990, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. and Ausubel et al., eds., 1998, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY, which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entireties), to generate antibodies having a different amino acid sequence, for example to create amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions.

[0466] In a specific embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the heavy and/or light chain variable domains may be inspected to identify the sequences of the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) by methods that are well know in the art, e.g., by comparison to known amino acid sequences of other heavy and light chain variable regions to determine the regions of sequence hypervariability. Using routine recombinant DNA techniques, one or more of the CDRs may be inserted within framework regions, e.g., into human framework regions to humanize a non-human antibody, as described supra. The frameworks regions may be naturally occurring or consensus framework regions, and preferably human framework regions (see, e.g., Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 278: 457-479 (1998) for a listing of human framework regions). Preferably, the polynucleotide generated by the combination of the framework regions and CDRs encodes an antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide of the invention. Preferably, as discussed supra, one or more amino acid substitutions may be made within the framework regions, and, preferably, the amino acid substitutions improve binding of the antibody to its antigen. Additionally, such methods may be used to make amino acid substitutions or deletions of one or more variable region cysteine residues participating in an intrachain disulfide bond to generate antibody molecules lacking one or more intrachain disulfide bonds. Other alterations to the polynucleotide are encompassed by the present invention and within the skill of the art.

[0467] In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies” (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81:851-855 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 312:604-608 (1984); Takeda et al., Nature 314:452-454 (1985)) by splicing genes from a mouse antibody molecule of appropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a human antibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. As described supra, a chimeric antibody is a molecule in which different portions are derived from different animal species, such as those having a variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulin constant region, e.g., humanized antibodies.

[0468] Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, Science 242:423-42 (1988); Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988); and Ward et al., Nature 334:544-54 (1989)) can be adapted to produce single chain antibodies. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide. Techniques for the assembly of functional Fv fragments in E. coli may also be used (Skerra et al., Science 242:1038-1041 (1988)).

[0469] Methods of Producing Antibodies

[0470] The antibodies of the invention can be produced by any method known in the art for the synthesis of antibodies, in particular, by chemical synthesis or preferably, by recombinant expression techniques.

[0471] Recombinant expression of an antibody of the invention, or fragment, derivative or analog thereof, (e.g., a heavy or light chain of an antibody of the invention or a single chain antibody of the invention), requires construction of an expression vector containing a polynucleotide that encodes the antibody. Once a polynucleotide encoding an antibody molecule or a heavy or light chain of an antibody, or portion thereof (preferably containing the heavy or light chain variable domain), of the invention has been obtained, the vector for the production of the antibody molecule may be produced by recombinant DNA technology using techniques well known in the art. Thus, methods for preparing a protein by expressing a polynucleotide containing an antibody encoding nucleotide sequence are described herein. Methods which are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences and appropriate transcriptional and translational control signals. These methods include, for example, in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. The invention, thus, provides replicable vectors comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an antibody molecule of the invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or a heavy or light chain variable domain, operably linked to a promoter. Such vectors may include the nucleotide sequence encoding the constant region of the antibody molecule (see, e.g., PCT Publication WO 86/05807; PCT Publication WO 89/01036; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,464) and the variable domain of the antibody may be cloned into such a vector for expression of the entire heavy or light chain.

[0472] The expression vector is transferred to a host cell by conventional techniques and the transfected cells are then cultured by conventional techniques to produce an antibody of the invention. Thus, the invention includes host cells containing a polynucleotide encoding an antibody of the invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or a single chain antibody of the invention, operably linked to a heterologous promoter. In preferred embodiments for the expression of double-chained antibodies, vectors encoding both the heavy and light chains may be co-expressed in the host cell for expression of the entire immunoglobulin molecule, as detailed below.

[0473] A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized to express the antibody molecules of the invention. Such host-expression systems represent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest may be produced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells which may, when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotide coding sequences, express an antibody molecule of the invention in situ. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing antibody coding sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing antibody coding sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3 cells) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter). Preferably, bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, and more preferably, eukaryotic cells, especially for the expression of whole recombinant antibody molecule, are used for the expression of a recombinant antibody molecule. For example, mammalian cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), in conjunction with a vector such as the major intermediate early gene promoter element from human cytomegalovirus is an effective expression system for antibodies (Foecking et al., Gene 45:101 (1986); Cockett et al., Bio/Technology 8:2 (1990)).

[0474] In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the antibody molecule being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such a protein is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of an antibody molecule, vectors which direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited, to the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., EMBO J. 2:1791 (1983)), in which the antibody coding sequence may be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lac Z coding region so that a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109 (1985); Van Heeke & Schuster, J. Biol. Chem. 24:5503-5509 (1989)); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption and binding to matrix glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

[0475] In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The antibody coding sequence may be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter).

[0476] In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the antibody coding sequence of interest may be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing the antibody molecule in infected hosts. (e.g., see Logan & Shenk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:355-359 (1984)). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficient translation of inserted antibody coding sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (see Bittner et al., Methods in Enzymol. 153:51-544 (1987)).

[0477] In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen which modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products may be important for the function of the protein. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian host cells include but are not limited to CHO, VERY, BHK, Hela, COS, MDCK, 293, 3T3, W138, and in particular, breast cancer cell lines such as, for example, BT483, Hs578T, HTB2, BT20 and T47D, and normal mammary gland cell line such as, for example, CRL7030 and Hs578Bst.

[0478] For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably express the antibody molecule may be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells may be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method may advantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the antibody molecule. Such engineered cell lines may be particularly useful in screening and evaluation of compounds that interact directly or indirectly with the antibody molecule.

[0479] A number of selection systems may be used, including but not limited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., Cell 11:223 (1977)), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska & Szybalski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:202.(1992)), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., Cell 22:817 (1980)) genes can be employed in tk-, hgprt- or aprt-cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for the following genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler et al., Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:357 (1980); O'Hare et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527 (1981)); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072 (1981)); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418 Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505; Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 3:87-95 (1991); Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993); Mulligan, Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217 (1993); May, 1993, TIB TECH 11(5): 155-215); and hygro, which confers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre et al., Gene 30:147 (1984)). Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology may be routinely applied to select the desired recombinant clone, and such methods are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); Kriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY (1990); and in Chapters 12 and 13, Dracopoli et al. (eds), Current Protocols in Human Genetics, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1994); Colberre-Garapin et al., J. Mol. Biol. 150:1 (1981), which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0480] The expression levels of an antibody molecule can be increased by vector amplification (for a review, see Bebbington and Hentschel, The use of vectors based on gene amplification for the expression of cloned genes in mammalian cells in DNA cloning, Vol.3. (Academic Press, New York, 1987)). When a marker in the vector system expressing antibody is amplifiable, increase in the level of inhibitor present in culture of host cell will increase the number of copies of the marker gene. Since the amplified region is associated with the antibody gene, production of the antibody will also increase (Crouse et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:257 (1983)).

[0481] The host cell may be co-transfected with two expression vectors of the invention, the first vector encoding a heavy chain derived polypeptide and the second vector encoding a light chain derived polypeptide. The two vectors may contain identical selectable markers which enable equal expression of heavy and light chain polypeptides. Alternatively, a single vector may be used which encodes, and is capable of expressing, both heavy and light chain polypeptides. In such situations, the light chain should be placed before the heavy chain to avoid an excess of toxic free heavy chain (Proudfoot, Nature 322:52 (1986); Kohler, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:2197 (1980)). The coding sequences for the heavy and light chains may comprise cDNA or genomic DNA.

[0482] Once an antibody molecule of the invention has been produced by an animal, chemically synthesized, or recombinantly expressed, it may be purified by any method known in the art for purification of an immunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigen after Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation, differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for the purification of proteins. In addition, the antibodies of the present invention or fragments thereof can be fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences described herein or otherwise known in the art, to facilitate purification.

[0483] The present invention encompasses antibodies recombinantly fused or chemically conjugated (including both covalently and non-covalently conjugations) to a polypeptide (or portion thereof, preferably at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of the polypeptide) of the present invention to generate fusion proteins. The fusion does not necessarily need to be direct, but may occur through linker sequences. The antibodies may be specific for antigens other than polypeptides (or portion thereof, preferably at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of the polypeptide) of the present invention. For example, antibodies may be used to target the polypeptides of the present invention to particular cell types, either in vitro or in vivo, by fusing or conjugating the polypeptides of the present invention to antibodies specific for particular cell surface receptors. Antibodies fused or conjugated to the polypeptides of the present invention may also be used in in vitro immunoassays and purification methods using methods known in the art. See e.g., Harbor et al., supra, and PCT publication WO 93/21232; EP 439,095; Naramura et al., Immunol. Lett. 39:91-99 (1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,981; Gillies et al., PNAS 89:1428-1432 (1992); Fell et al., J. Immunol. 146:2446-2452(1991), which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[0484] The present invention further includes compositions comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused or conjugated to antibody domains other than the variable regions. For example, the polypeptides of the present invention may be fused or conjugated to an antibody Fc region, or portion thereof. The antibody portion fused to a polypeptide of the present invention may comprise the constant region, hinge region, CH1 domain, CH2 domain, and CH3 domain or any combination of whole domains or portions thereof. The polypeptides may also be fused or conjugated to the above antibody portions to form multimers. For example, Fc portions fused to the polypeptides of the present invention can form dimers through disulfide bonding between the Fc portions. Higher multimeric forms can be made by fusing the polypeptides to portions of IgA and IgM. Methods for fusing or conjugating the polypeptides of the present invention to antibody portions are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,336,603; 5,622,929; 5,359,046; 5,349,053; 5,447,851; 5,112,946; EP 307,434; EP 367,166; PCT publications WO 96/04388; WO 91/06570; Ashkenazi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10535-10539 (1991); Zheng et al., J. Immunol. 154:5590-5600 (1995); and Vil et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:11337-11341(1992) (said references incorporated by reference in their entireties).

[0485] As discussed, supra, the polypeptides corresponding to a polypeptide, polypeptide fragment, or a variant of SEQ ID NO:Y may be fused or conjugated to the above antibody portions to increase the in vivo half life of the polypeptides or for use in immunoassays using methods known in the art. Further, the polypeptides corresponding to SEQ ID NO:Y may be fused or conjugated to the above antibody portions to facilitate purification. One reported example describes chimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the human CD4polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. (EP 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature 331:84-86 (1988). The polypeptides of the present invention fused or conjugated to an antibody having disulfide- linked dimeric structures (due to the IgG) may also be more efficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules, than the monomeric secreted protein or protein fragment alone. (Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964 (1995)). In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial in therapy and diagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improved pharmacokinetic properties. (EP A 232,262). Alternatively, deleting the Fc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected, and purified, would be desired. For example, the Fc portion may hinder therapy and diagnosis if the fusion protein is used as an antigen for immunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such as hIL-5, have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. (See, Bennett et al., J. Molecular Recognition 8:52-58 (1995); Johanson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:9459-9471 (1995).

[0486] Moreover, the antibodies or fragments thereof of the present invention can be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide to facilitate purification. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acid sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311), among others, many of which are commercially available. As described in Gentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), for instance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of the fusion protein. Other peptide tags useful for purification include, but are not limited to, the “HA” tag, which corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)) and the “flag” tag.

[0487] The present invention further encompasses antibodies or fragments thereof conjugated to a diagnostic or therapeutic agent. The antibodies can be used diagnostically to, for example, monitor the development or progression of a tumor as part of a clinical testing procedure to, e.g., determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can be facilitated by coupling the antibody to a detectable substance. Examples of detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups, fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials, radioactive materials, positron emitting metals using various positron emission tomographies, and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. The detectable substance may be coupled or conjugated either directly to the antibody (or fragment thereof) or indirectly, through an intermediate (such as, for example, a linker known in the art) using techniques known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 for metal ions which can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics according to the present invention. Examples of suitable enzymes include horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or acetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexes include streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitable fluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansyl chloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includes luminol; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase, luciferin, and aequorin; and examples of suitable radioactive material include 125I, 131I, 111In or 99Tc.

[0488] Further, an antibody or fragment thereof may be conjugated to a therapeutic moiety such as a cytotoxin, e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidal agent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g., alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213Bi. A cytotoxin or cytotoxic agent includes any agent that is detrimental to cells. Examples include paclitaxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogs or homologs thereof. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g., mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine).

[0489] The conjugates of the invention can be used for modifying a given biological response, the therapeutic agent or drug moiety is not to be construed as limited to classical chemical therapeutic agents. For example, the drug moiety may be a protein or polypeptide possessing a desired biological activity. Such proteins may include, for example, a toxin such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria toxin; a protein such as tumor necrosis factor, α-interferon, β-interferon, nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, tissue plasminogen activator, an apoptotic agent, e.g., TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, AIM I (See, International Publication No. WO 97/33899), AIM II (See, International Publication No. WO 97/34911), Fas Ligand (Takahashi et al., Int. Immunol., 6:1567-1574 (1994)), VEGI (See, International Publication No. WO 99/23105), a thrombotic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent, e.g., angiostatin or endostatin; or, biological response modifiers such as, for example, lymphokines, interleukin-1 (“IL-1”), interleukin-2 (“IL-2”), interleukin-6 (“IL-6”), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (“GM-CSF”), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (“G-CSF”), or other growth factors.

[0490] Antibodies may also be attached to solid supports, which are particularly useful for immunoassays or purification of the target antigen. Such solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass, cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene.

[0491] Techniques for conjugating such therapeutic moiety to antibodies are well known, see, e.g., Arnon et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies For Immunotargeting Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies And Cancer Therapy, Reisfeld et al. (eds.), pp. 243-56 (Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1985); Hellstrom et al., “Antibodies For Drug Delivery”, in Controlled Drug Delivery (2nd Ed.), Robinson et al. (eds.), pp. 623-53 (Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1987); Thorpe, “Antibody Carriers Of Cytotoxic Agents In Cancer Therapy: A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies '84: Biological And Clinical Applications, Pinchera et al. (eds.), pp. 475-506 (1985); “Analysis, Results, And Future Prospective Of The Therapeutic Use Of Radiolabeled Antibody In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies For Cancer Detection And Therapy, Baldwin et al. (eds.), pp. 303-16 (Academic Press 1985), and Thorpe et al., “The Preparation And Cytotoxic Properties Of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates”, Immunol. Rev. 62:119-58 (1982).

[0492] Alternatively, an antibody can be conjugated to a second antibody to form an antibody heteroconjugate as described by Segal in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,980, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0493] An antibody, with or without a therapeutic moiety conjugated to it, administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic factor(s) and/or cytokine(s) can be used as a therapeutic.

[0494] Immunophenotyping

[0495] The antibodies of the invention may be utilized for immunophenotyping of cell lines and biological samples. The translation product of the gene of the present invention may be useful as a cell specific marker, or more specifically as a cellular marker that is differentially expressed at various stages of differentiation and/or maturation of particular cell types. Monoclonal antibodies directed against a specific epitope, or combination of epitopes, will allow for the screening of cellular populations expressing the marker. Various techniques can be utilized using monoclonal antibodies to screen for cellular populations expressing the marker(s), and include magnetic separation using antibody-coated magnetic beads, “panning” with antibody attached to a solid matrix (i.e., plate), and flow cytometry (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,660; and Morrison et al., Cell, 96:73749 (1999)).

[0496] These techniques allow for the screening of particular populations of cells, such as might be found with hematological malignancies (i.e. minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemic patients) and “non-self” cells in transplantations to prevent Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD). Alternatively, these techniques allow for the screening of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells capable of undergoing proliferation and/or differentiation, as might be found in human umbilical cord blood.

[0497] Assays for Antibody Binding

[0498] The antibodies of the invention may be assayed for immunospecific binding by any method known in the art. The immunoassays which can be used include but are not limited to competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such as western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescent immunoassays, protein A immunoassays, to name but a few. Such assays are routine and well known in the art (see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Exemplary immunoassays are described briefly below (but are not intended by way of limitation).

[0499] Immunoprecipitation protocols generally comprise lysing a population of cells in a lysis buffer such as RIPA buffer (1% NP-40 or Triton X-100, 1% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 M sodium phosphate at pH 7.2, 1% Trasylol) supplemented with protein phosphatase and/or protease inhibitors (e.g., EDTA, PMSF, aprotinin, sodium vanadate), adding the antibody of interest to the cell lysate, incubating for a period of time (e.g., 1-4 hours) at 4° C., adding protein A and/or protein G sepharose beads to the cell lysate, incubating for about an hour or more at 4° C., washing the beads in lysis buffer and resuspending the beads in SDS/sample buffer. The ability of the antibody of interest to immunoprecipitate a particular antigen can be assessed by, e.g., western blot analysis. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the binding of the antibody to an antigen and decrease the background (e.g., pre-clearing the cell lysate with sepharose beads). For further discussion regarding immunoprecipitation protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.16.1.

[0500] Western blot analysis generally comprises preparing protein samples, electrophoresis of the protein samples in a polyacrylamide gel (e.g., 8%-20% SDS-PAGE depending on the molecular weight of the antigen), transferring the protein sample from the polyacrylamide gel to a membrane such as nitrocellulose, PVDF or nylon, blocking the membrane in blocking solution (e.g., PBS with 3% BSA or non-fat milk), washing the membrane in washing buffer (e.g., PBS-Tween 20), blocking the membrane with primary antibody (the antibody of interest) diluted in blocking buffer, washing the membrane in washing buffer, blocking the membrane with a secondary antibody (which recognizes the primary antibody, e.g., an anti-human antibody) conjugated to an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) or radioactive molecule (e.g., 32P or 125I) diluted in blocking buffer, washing the membrane in wash buffer, and detecting the presence of the antigen. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected and to reduce the background noise. For further discussion regarding western blot protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.8.1.

[0501] ELISAs comprise preparing antigen, coating the well of a 96 well microtiter plate with the antigen, adding the antibody of interest conjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) to the well and incubating for a period of time, and detecting the presence of the antigen. In ELISAs the antibody of interest does not have to be conjugated to a detectable compound; instead, a second antibody (which recognizes the antibody of interest) conjugated to a detectable compound may be added to the well. Further, instead of coating the well with the antigen, the antibody may be coated to the well. In this case, a second antibody conjugated to a detectable compound may be added following the addition of the antigen of interest to the coated well. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected as well as other variations of ELISAs known in the art. For further discussion regarding ELISAs see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 11.2.1.

[0502] The binding affinity of an antibody to an antigen and the off-rate of an antibody-antigen interaction can be determined by competitive binding assays. One example of a competitive binding assay is a radioimmunoassay comprising the incubation of labeled antigen (e.g., 3H or 125I) with the antibody of interest in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabeled antigen, and the detection of the antibody bound to the labeled antigen. The affinity of the antibody of interest for a particular antigen and the binding off-rates can be determined from the data by scatchard plot analysis. Competition with a second antibody can also be determined using radioimmunoassays. In this case, the antigen is incubated with antibody of interest conjugated to a labeled compound (e.g., 3H or 125I) in the presence of increasing amounts of an unlabeled second antibody.

[0503] Therapeutic Uses

[0504] The present invention is further directed to antibody-based therapies which involve administering antibodies of the invention to an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, patient for treating one or more of the disclosed diseases, disorders, or conditions. Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof as described herein) and nucleic acids encoding antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs and derivatives thereof and anti-idiotypic antibodies as described herein). The antibodies of the invention can be used to treat, inhibit or prevent diseases, disorders or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditions described herein. The treatment and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention includes, but is not limited to, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases, disorders or conditions. Antibodies of the invention may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or as described herein.

[0505] A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the present invention may be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotides or polypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in the body or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated by complement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approaches are described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use the antibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring or therapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

[0506] The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilized in combination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or with lymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors (such as, e.g., IL-2, IL-3 and IL-7), for example, which serve to increase the number or activity of effector cells which interact with the antibodies.

[0507] The antibodies of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other types of treatments (e.g., radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and anti-tumor agents). Generally, administration of products of a species origin or species reactivity (in the case of antibodies) that is the same species as that of the patient is preferred. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, human antibodies, fragments derivatives, analogs, or nucleic acids, are administered to a human patient for therapy or prophylaxis.

[0508] It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivo inhibiting and/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides or polynucleotides of the present invention, fragments or regions thereof, for both immunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related to polynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragments thereof, of the present invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, will preferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention, including fragments thereof. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻² M, 10⁻² M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³ M, 5×10⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵M, 10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁶ M, 10⁻⁶ M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁻⁷ M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹ M, 5×10⁻¹⁰ M, 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×10⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹² M, 10⁻¹² M, 5×10⁻¹³ M, 10⁻¹³ M, 5×10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M, 5×10⁻¹⁵ M, and 10⁻⁵ M.

[0509] Gene Therapy

[0510] In a specific embodiment, nucleic acids comprising sequences encoding antibodies or functional derivatives thereof, are administered to treat, inhibit or prevent a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention, by way of gene therapy. Gene therapy refers to therapy performed by the administration to a subject of an expressed or expressible nucleic acid. In this embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acids produce their encoded protein that mediates a therapeutic effect.

[0511] Any of the methods for gene therapy available in the art can be used according to the present invention. Exemplary methods are described below.

[0512] For general reviews of the methods of gene therapy, see Goldspiel et al., Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505 (1993); Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 3:87-95 (1991); Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993); Mulligan, Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217 (1993); May, TIBTECH 11(5):155-215 (1993). Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology which can be used are described in Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); and Kriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY (1990).

[0513] In a preferred aspect, the compound comprises nucleic acid sequences encoding an antibody, said nucleic acid sequences being part of expression vectors that express the antibody or fragments or chimeric proteins or heavy or light chains thereof in a suitable host. In particular, such nucleic acid sequences have promoters operably linked to the antibody coding region, said promoter being inducible or constitutive, and, optionally, tissue-specific. In another particular embodiment, nucleic acid molecules are used in which the antibody coding sequences and any other desired sequences are flanked by regions that promote homologous recombination at a desired site in the genome, thus providing for intrachromosomal expression of the antibody encoding nucleic acids (Koller and Smithies, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989). In specific embodiments, the expressed antibody molecule is a single chain antibody; alternatively, the nucleic acid sequences include sequences encoding both the heavy and light chains, or fragments thereof, of the antibody.

[0514] Delivery of the nucleic acids into a patient may be either direct, in which case the patient is directly exposed to the nucleic acid or nucleic acid-carrying vectors, or indirect, in which case, cells are first transformed with the nucleic acids in vitro, then transplanted into the patient. These two approaches are known, respectively, as in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy.

[0515] In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences are directly administered in vivo, where it is expressed to produce the encoded product. This can be accomplished by any of numerous methods known in the art, e.g., by constructing them as part of an appropriate nucleic acid expression vector and administering it so that they become intracellular, e.g., by infection using defective or attenuated retrovirals or other viral vectors (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or by direct injection of naked DNA, or by use of microparticle bombardment (e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids or cell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, or microcapsules, or by administering them in linkage to a peptide which is known to enter the nucleus, by administering it in linkage to a ligand subject to receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432 (1987)) (which can be used to target cell types specifically expressing the receptors), etc. In another embodiment, nucleic acid-ligand complexes can be formed in which the ligand comprises a fusogenic viral peptide to disrupt endosomes, allowing the nucleic acid to avoid lysosomal degradation. In yet another embodiment, the nucleic acid can be targeted in vivo for cell specific uptake and expression, by targeting a specific receptor (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 92/06180; WO 92/22635; WO92/20316; WO93/14188, WO 93/20221). Alternatively, the nucleic acid can be introduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNA for expression, by homologous recombination (Koller and Smithies, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989)).

[0516] In a specific embodiment, viral vectors that contains nucleic acid sequences encoding an antibody of the invention are used. For example, a retroviral vector can be used (see Miller et al., Meth. Enzymol. 217:581-599 (1993)). These retroviral vectors contain the components necessary for the correct packaging of the viral genome and integration into the host cell DNA. The nucleic acid sequences encoding the antibody to be used in gene therapy are cloned into one or more vectors, which facilitates delivery of the gene into a patient. More detail about retroviral vectors can be found in Boesen et al., Biotherapy 6:291-302 (1994), which describes the use of a retroviral vector to deliver the mdr1 gene to hematopoietic stem cells in order to make the stem cells more resistant to chemotherapy. Other references illustrating the use of retroviral vectors in gene therapy are: Clowes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 93:644 651 (1994); Kiem et al., Blood 83:1467-1473 (1994); Salmons and Gunzberg, Human Gene Therapy 4:129-141 (1993); and Grossman and Wilson, Curr. Opin. in Genetics and Devel. 3:110-114 (1993).

[0517] Adenoviruses are other viral vectors that can be used in gene therapy. Adenoviruses are especially attractive vehicles for delivering genes to respiratory epithelia. Adenoviruses naturally infect respiratory epithelia where they cause a mild disease. Other targets for adenovirus-based delivery systems are liver, the central nervous system, endothelial cells, and muscle. Adenoviruses have the advantage of being capable of infecting non-dividing cells. Kozarsky and Wilson, Current Opinion in Genetics and Development 3:499-503 (1993) present a review of adenovirus-based gene therapy. Bout et al., Human Gene Therapy 5:3-10 (1994) demonstrated the use of adenovirus vectors to transfer genes to the respiratory epithelia of rhesus monkeys. Other instances of the use of adenoviruses in gene therapy can be found in Rosenfeld et al., Science 252:431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992); Mastrangeli et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:225-234 (1993); PCT Publication WO94/12649; and Wang, et al., Gene Therapy 2:775-783 (1995). In a preferred embodiment, adenovirus vectors are used.

[0518] Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has also been proposed for use in gene therapy (Walsh et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 204:289-300 (1993); U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,146).

[0519] Another approach to gene therapy involves transferring a gene to cells in tissue culture by such methods as electroporation, lipofection, calcium phosphate mediated transfection, or viral infection. Usually, the method of transfer includes the transfer of a selectable marker to the cells. The cells are then placed under selection to isolate those cells that have taken up and are expressing the transferred gene. Those cells are then delivered to a patient.

[0520] In this embodiment, the nucleic acid is introduced into a cell prior to administration in vivo of the resulting recombinant cell. Such introduction can be carried out by any method known in the art, including but not limited to transfection, electroporation, microinjection, infection with a viral or bacteriophage vector containing the nucleic acid sequences, cell fusion, chromosome-mediated gene transfer, microcell-mediated gene transfer, spheroplast fusion, etc. Numerous techniques are known in the art for the introduction of foreign genes into cells (see, e.g., Loeffler and Behr, Meth. Enzymol. 217:599-618 (1993); Cohen et al., Meth. Enzymol. 217:618-644 (1993); Cline, Pharmac. Ther. 29:69-92m (1985) and may be used in accordance with the present invention, provided that the necessary developmental and physiological functions of the recipient cells are not disrupted. The technique should provide for the stable transfer of the nucleic acid to the cell, so that the nucleic acid is expressible by the cell and preferably heritable and expressible by its cell progeny.

[0521] The resulting recombinant cells can be delivered to a patient by various methods known in the art. Recombinant blood cells (e.g., hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells) are preferably administered intravenously. The amount of cells envisioned for use depends on the desired effect, patient state, etc., and can be determined by one skilled in the art.

[0522] Cells into which a nucleic acid can be introduced for purposes of gene therapy encompass any desired, available cell type, and include but are not limited to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, muscle cells, hepatocytes; blood cells such as Tlymphocytes, Blymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, megakaryocytes, granulocytes; various stem or progenitor cells, in particular hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, e.g., as obtained from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, fetal liver, etc.

[0523] In a preferred embodiment, the cell used for gene therapy is autologous to the patient.

[0524] In an embodiment in which recombinant cells are used in gene therapy, nucleic acid sequences encoding an antibody are introduced into the cells such that they are expressible by the cells or their progeny, and the recombinant cells are then administered in vivo for therapeutic effect. In a specific embodiment, stem or progenitor cells are used. Any stem and/or progenitor cells which can be isolated and maintained in vitro can potentially be used in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention (see e.g. PCT Publication WO 94/08598; Stemple and Anderson, Cell 71:973-985 (1992); Rheinwald, Meth. Cell Bio. 21A:229 (1980); and Pittelkow and Scott, Mayo Clinic Proc. 61:771 (1986)).

[0525] In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid to be introduced for purposes of gene therapy comprises an inducible promoter operably linked to the coding region, such that expression of the nucleic acid is controllable by controlling the presence or absence of the appropriate inducer of transcription. Demonstration of Therapeutic or Prophylactic Activity.

[0526] The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are preferably tested in vitro, and then in vivo for the desired therapeutic or prophylactic activity, prior to use in humans. For example, in vitro assays to demonstrate the therapeutic or prophylactic utility of a compound or pharmaceutical composition include, the effect of a compound on a cell line or a patient tissue sample. The effect of the compound or composition on the cell line and/or tissue sample can be determined utilizing techniques known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited to, rosette formation assays and cell lysis assays. In accordance with the invention, in vitro assays which can be used to determine whether administration of a specific compound is indicated, include in vitro cell culture assays in which a patient tissue sample is grown in culture, and exposed to or otherwise administered a compound, and the effect of such compound upon the tissue sample is observed.

[0527] Therapeutic/Prophylactic Administration and Composition

[0528] The invention provides methods of treatment, inhibition and prophylaxis by administration to a subject of an effective amount of a compound or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, preferably an antibody of the invention. In a preferred aspect, the compound is substantially purified (e.g., substantially free from substances that limit its effect or produce undesired side-effects). The subject is preferably an animal, including but not limited to animals such as cows, pigs, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, etc., and is preferably a mammal, and most preferably human.

[0529] Formulations and methods of administration that can be employed when the compound comprises a nucleic acid or an immunoglobulin are described above; additional appropriate formulations and routes of administration can be selected from among those described herein below.

[0530] Various delivery systems are known and can be used to administer a compound of the invention, e.g., encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable of expressing the compound, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262:44294432 (1987)), construction of a nucleic acid as part of a retroviral or other vector, etc. Methods of introduction include but are not limited to intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, and oral routes. The compounds or compositions may be administered by any convenient route, for example by infusion or bolus injection, by absorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e.g., oral mucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administered together with other biologically active agents. Administration can be systemic or local. In addition, it may be desirable to introduce the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention into the central nervous system by any suitable route, including intraventricular and intrathecal injection; intraventricular injection may be facilitated by an intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to a reservoir, such as an Ommaya reservoir. Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent.

[0531] In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention locally to the area in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and not by way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topical application, e.g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery, by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or by means of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes, or fibers. Preferably, when administering a protein, including an antibody, of the invention, care must be taken to use materials to which the protein does not absorb.

[0532] In another embodiment, the compound or composition can be delivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science 249-1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327; see generally ibid.)

[0533] In yet another embodiment, the compound or composition can be delivered in a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used (see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Florida (1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, New York (1984); Ranger and Peppas, J., Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61 (1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228:190 (1985); During et al., Ann. Neurol. 25:351 (1989); Howard et al., J.Neurosurg. 71:105 (1989)). In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target, i.e., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)).

[0534] Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

[0535] In a specific embodiment where the compound of the invention is a nucleic acid encoding a protein, the nucleic acid can be administered in vivo to promote expression of its encoded protein, by constructing it as part of an appropriate nucleic acid expression vector and administering it so that it becomes intracellular, e.g., by use of a retroviral vector (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or by direct injection, or by use of microparticle bombardment (e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids or cell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, or by administering it in linkage to a homeobox-like peptide which is known to enter the nucleus (see e.g., Joliot et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:1864-1868 (1991)), etc. Alternatively, a nucleic acid can be introduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNA for expression, by homologous recombination.

[0536] The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions. Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly in humans. The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be, sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable or synthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesame oil and the like. Water is a preferred carrier when the pharmaceutical composition is administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. The composition can be formulated as a suppository, with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such as pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin. Such compositions will contain a therapeutically effective amount of the compound, preferably in purified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper administration to the patient. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

[0537] In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated in accordance with routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition adapted for intravenous administration to human beings. Typically, compositions for intravenous administration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such as lignocaine to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of active agent. Where the composition is to be administered by infusion, it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where the composition is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to administration.

[0538] The compounds of the invention can be formulated as neutral or salt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed with anions such as those derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic, oxalic, tartaric acids, etc., and those formed with cations such as those derived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferric hydroxides, isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, procaine, etc.

[0539] The amount of the compound of the invention which will be effective in the treatment, inhibition and prevention of a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention can be determined by standard clinical techniques. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed in the formulation will also depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the disease or disorder, and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances. Effective doses may be extrapolated from dose-response curves derived from in vitro or animal model test systems.

[0540] For antibodies, the dosage administered to a patient is typically 0.1 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Preferably, the dosage administered to a patient is between 0.1 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of the patient's body weight, more preferably 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Generally, human antibodies have a longer half-life within the human body than antibodies from other species due to the immune response to the foreign polypeptides. Thus, lower dosages of human antibodies and less frequent administration is often possible. Further, the dosage and frequency of administration of antibodies of the invention may be reduced by enhancing uptake and tissue penetration (e.g., into the brain) of the antibodies by modifications such as, for example, lipidation.

[0541] The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Optionally associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration. Diagnosis and Imaging.

[0542] Labeled antibodies, and derivatives and analogs thereof, which specifically bind to a polypeptide of interest can be used for diagnostic purposes to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with the aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention. The invention provides for the detection of aberrant expression of a polypeptide of interest, comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide of interest in cells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodies specific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of aberrant expression.

[0543] The invention provides a diagnostic assay for diagnosing a disorder, comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide of interest in cells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodies specific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of a particular disorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively high amount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicate a predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide a means for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actual clinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allow health professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressive treatment earlier thereby preventing the development or further progression of the cancer.

[0544] Antibodies of the invention can be used to assay protein levels in a biological sample using classical immunohistological methods known to those of skill in the art (e.g., see Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase; radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99Tc); luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

[0545] One aspect of the invention is the detection and diagnosis of a disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of a polypeptide of interest in an animal, preferably a mammal and most preferably a human. In one embodiment, diagnosis comprises: a) administering (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally) to a subject an effective amount of a labeled molecule which specifically binds to the polypeptide of interest; b) waiting for a time interval following the administering for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentially concentrate at sites in the subject where the polypeptide is expressed (and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared to background level); c) determining background level; and d) detecting the labeled molecule in the subject, such that detection of labeled molecule above the background level indicates that the subject has a particular disease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of the polypeptide of interest. Background level can be determined by various methods including, comparing the amount of labeled molecule detected to a standard value previously determined for a particular system.

[0546] It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99mTc. The labeled antibody or antibody fragment will then preferentially accumulate at the location of cells which contain the specific protein. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982).

[0547] Depending on several variables, including the type of label used and the mode of administration, the time interval following the administration for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentially concentrate at sites in the subject and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared to background level is 6 to 48 hours or 6 to 24 hours or 6 to 12 hours. In another embodiment the time interval following administration is 5 to 20 days or 5 to 10 days.

[0548] In an embodiment, monitoring of the disease or disorder is carried out by repeating the method for diagnosing the disease or disease, for example, one month after initial diagnosis, six months after initial diagnosis, one year after initial diagnosis, etc.

[0549] Presence of the labeled molecule can be detected in the patient using methods known in the art for in vivo scanning. These methods depend upon the type of label used. Skilled artisans will be able to determine the appropriate method for detecting a particular label. Methods and devices that may be used in the diagnostic methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, computed tomography (CT), whole body scan such as position emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sonography.

[0550] In a specific embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a radioisotope and is detected in the patient using a radiation responsive surgical instrument (Thurston et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,050). In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a fluorescent compound and is detected in the patient using a fluorescence responsive scanning instrument. In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a positron emitting metal and is detected in the patent using positron emission-tomography. In yet another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a paramagnetic label and is detected in a patient using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

[0551] Kits

[0552] The present invention provides kits that can be used in the above methods. In one embodiment, a kit comprises an antibody of the invention, preferably a purified antibody, in one or more containers. In a specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain a substantially isolated polypeptide comprising an epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with an antibody included in the kit. Preferably, the kits of the present invention further comprise a control antibody which does not react with the polypeptide of interest. In another specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain a means for detecting the binding of an antibody to a polypeptide of interest (e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substrate such as a fluorescent compound, an enzymatic substrate, a radioactive compound or a luminescent compound, or a second antibody which recognizes the first antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substrate).

[0553] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the kit is a diagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antibodies specific against proliferative and/or cancerous polynucleotides and polypeptides. Such a kit may include a control antibody that does not react with the polypeptide of interest. Such a kit may include a substantially isolated polypeptide antigen comprising an epitope which is specifically immunoreactive with at least one anti-polypeptide antigen antibody. Further, such a kit includes means for detecting the binding of said antibody to the antigen (e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to a fluorescent compound such as fluorescein or rhodamine which can be detected by flow cytometry). In specific embodiments, the kit may include a recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized polypeptide antigen. The polypeptide antigen of the kit may also be attached to a solid support.

[0554] In a more specific embodiment the detecting means of the above-described kit includes a solid support to which said polypeptide antigen is attached. Such a kit may also include a non-attached reporter-labeled anti-human antibody. In this embodiment, binding of the antibody to the polypeptide antigen can be detected by binding of the said reporter-labeled antibody.

[0555] In an additional embodiment, the invention includes a diagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antigens of the polypeptide of the invention. The diagnostic kit includes a substantially isolated antibody specifically immunoreactive with polypeptide or polynucleotide antigens, and means for detecting the binding of the polynucleotide or polypeptide antigen to the antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody is attached to a solid support. In a specific embodiment, the antibody may be a monoclonal antibody. The detecting means of the kit may include a second, labeled monoclonal antibody. Alternatively, or in addition, the detecting means may include a labeled, competing antigen.

[0556] In one diagnostic configuration, test serum is reacted with a solid phase reagent having a surface-bound antigen obtained by the methods of the present invention. After binding with specific antigen antibody to the reagent and removing unbound serum components by washing, the reagent is reacted with reporter-labeled anti-human antibody to bind reporter to the reagent in proportion to the amount of bound anti-antigen antibody on the solid support. The reagent is again washed to remove unbound labeled antibody, and the amount of reporter associated with the reagent is determined. Typically, the reporter is an enzyme which is detected by incubating the solid phase in the presence of a suitable fluorometric, luminescent or calorimetric substrate (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.).

[0557] The solid surface reagent in the above assay is prepared by known techniques for attaching protein material to solid support material, such as polymeric beads, dip sticks, 96-well plate or filter material. These attachment methods generally include non-specific adsorption of the protein to the support or covalent attachment of the protein, typically through a free amine group, to a chemically reactive group on the solid support, such as an activated carboxyl, hydroxyl, or aldehyde group. Alternatively, streptavidin coated plates can be used in conjunction with biotinylated antigen(s).

[0558] Thus, the invention provides an assay system or kit for carrying out this diagnostic method. The kit generally includes a support with surface-bound recombinant antigens, and a reporter-labeled anti-human antibody for detecting surface-bound anti-antigen antibody.

[0559] Fusion Proteins

[0560] Any polypeptide of the present invention can be used to generate fusion proteins. For example, the polypeptide of the present invention, when fused to a second protein, can be used as an antigenic tag. Antibodies raised against the polypeptide of the present invention can be used to indirectly detect the second protein by binding to the polypeptide. Moreover, because secreted proteins target cellular locations based on trafficking signals, the polypeptides of the present invention can be used as targeting molecules once fused to other proteins.

[0561] Examples of domains that can be fused to polypeptides of the present invention include not only heterologous signal sequences, but also other heterologous functional regions. The fusion does not necessarily need to be direct, but may occur through linker sequences.

[0562] Moreover, fusion proteins may also be engineered to improve characteristics of the polypeptide of the present invention. For instance, a region of additional amino acids, particularly charged amino acids, may be added to the N-terminus of the polypeptide to improve stability and persistence during purification from the host cell or subsequent handling and storage. Also, peptide moieties may be added to the polypeptide to facilitate purification. Such regions may be removed prior to final preparation of the polypeptide. The addition of peptide moieties to facilitate handling of polypeptides are familiar and routine techniques in the art.

[0563] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention, including fragments, and specifically epitopes, can be combined with parts of the constant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM) or portions thereof (CH1, CH2, CH13, and any combination thereof, including both entire domains and portions thereof), resulting in chimeric polypeptides. These fusion proteins facilitate purification and show an increased half-life in vivo. One reported example describes chimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. (EP A 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature 331:84-86 (1988).) Fusion proteins having disulfide-linked dimeric structures (due to the IgG) can also be more efficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules, than the monomeric secreted protein or protein fragment alone. (Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964 (1995).)

[0564] Similarly, EP-A-O 464 533 (Canadian counterpart 2045869) discloses fusion proteins comprising various portions of constant region of immunoglobulin molecules together with another human protein or part thereof. In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial in therapy and diagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improved pharmacokinetic properties. (EP-A 0232 262.) Alternatively, deleting the Fc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected, and purified, would be desired. For example, the Fc portion may hinder therapy and diagnosis if the fusion protein is used as an antigen for immunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such as hIL-5, have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. (See, D. Bennett et al., J. Molecular Recognition 8:52-58 (1995); K. Johanson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:9459-9471 (1995).) Moreover, the polypeptides of the present invention can be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide which facilitates purification of the fused polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acid sequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311), among others, many of which are commercially available. As described in Gentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), for instance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of the fusion protein. Another peptide tag useful for purification, the “HA” tag, corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein. (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984).)

[0565] Thus, any of these above fusions can be engineered using the polynucleotides or the polypeptides of the present invention.

[0566] Vectors, Host Cells, and Protein Production

[0567] The present invention also relates to vectors containing the polynucleotide of the present invention, host cells, and the production of polypeptides by recombinant techniques. The vector may be, for example, a phage, plasmid, viral, or retroviral vector. Retroviral vectors may be replication competent or replication defective. In the latter case, viral propagation generally will occur only in complementing host cells.

[0568] The polynucleotides may be joined to a vector containing a selectable marker for propagation in a host. Generally, a plasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate, such as a calcium phosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a virus, it may be packaged in vitro using an appropriate packaging cell line and then transduced into host cells.

[0569] The polynucleotide insert should be operatively linked to an appropriate promoter, such as the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. coli lac, trp, phoA and tac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters and promoters of retroviral LTRs, to name a few. Other suitable promoters will be known to the skilled artisan. The expression constructs will further contain sites for transcription initiation, termination, and, in the transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. The coding portion of the transcripts expressed by the constructs will preferably include a translation initiating codon at the beginning and a termination codon (UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at the end of the polypeptide to be translated.

[0570] As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include at least one selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase, G418 or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture and tetracycline, kanamycin or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria. Representative examples of appropriate hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris (ATCC Accession No. 201178)); insect cells such as Drosophila S2 and Spodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, 293, and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums and conditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.

[0571] Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria include pQE70, pQE60 and pQE-9, available from QIAGEN, Inc.; pBluescript vectors, Phagescript vectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc.; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5 available from Pharmacia Biotech, Inc. Among preferred eukaryotic vectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from Stratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia. Preferred expression vectors for use in yeast systems include, but are not limited to pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ,pGAPZ, pGAPZalph, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, pPIC9K, and PAO815 (all available from Invitrogen, Carlbad, Calif.). Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

[0572] Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection, cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction, infection, or other methods. Such methods are described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In Molecular Biology (1986). It is specifically contemplated that the polypeptides of the present invention may in fact be expressed by a host cell lacking a recombinant vector.

[0573] A polypeptide of this invention can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammonium sulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cation exchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification.

[0574] Polypeptides of the present invention, and preferably the secreted form, can also be recovered from: products purified from natural sources, including bodily fluids, tissues and cells, whether directly isolated or cultured; products of chemical synthetic procedures; and products produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example, bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect, and mammalian cells. Depending upon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may be non-glycosylated. In addition, polypeptides of the invention may also include an initial modified methionine residue, in some cases as a result of host-mediated processes. Thus, it is well known in the art that the N-terminal methionine encoded by the translation initiation codon generally is removed with high efficiency from any protein after translation in all eukaryotic cells. While the N-terminal methionine on most proteins also is efficiently removed in most prokaryotes, for some proteins, this prokaryotic removal process is inefficient, depending on the nature of the amino acid to which the N-terminal methionine is covalently linked.

[0575] In one embodiment, the yeast Pichia pastoris is used to express the polypeptide of the present invention in a eukaryotic system. Pichia pastoris is a methylotrophic yeast which can metabolize methanol as its sole carbon source. A main step in the methanol metabolization pathway is the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using O₂. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme alcohol oxidase. In order to metabolize methanol as its sole carbon source, Pichia pastoris must generate high levels of alcohol oxidase due, in part, to the relatively low affinity of alcohol oxidase for O₂ Consequently, in a growth medium depending on methanol as a main carbon source, the promoter region of one of the two alcohol oxidase genes (AOX1) is highly active. In the presence of methanol, alcohol oxidase produced from the AOX1 gene comprises up to approximately 30% of the total soluble protein in Pichia pastoris. See, Ellis, S. B., et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:1111-21 (1985); Koutz, P. J, et al., Yeast 5:167-77 (1989); Tschopp, J. F., et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 15:3859-76 (1987). Thus, a heterologous coding sequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide of the present invention, under the transcriptional regulation of all or part of the AOX1 regulatory sequence is expressed at exceptionally high levels in Pichia yeast grown in the presence of methanol.

[0576] In one example, the plasmid vector pPIC9K is used to express DNA encoding a polypeptide of the invention, as set forth herein, in a Pichea yeast system essentially as described in “Pichia Protocols: Methods in Molecular Biology,” D. R. Higgins and J. Cregg, eds. The Humana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1998. This expression vector allows expression and secretion of a protein of the invention by virtue of the strong AOX1 promoter linked to the Pichia pastoris alkaline phosphatase (PHO) secretory signal peptide (i.e., leader) located upstream of a multiple cloning site.

[0577] Many other yeast vectors could be used in place of pPIC9K, such as, pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalpha, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, and PAO815, as one skilled in the art would readily appreciate, as long as the proposed expression construct provides appropriately located signals for transcription, translation, secretion (if desired), and the like, including an in-frame AUG as required.

[0578] In another embodiment, high-level expression of a heterologous coding sequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide of the present invention, may be achieved by cloning the heterologous polynucleotide of the invention into an expression vector such as, for example, pGAPZ or pGAPZalpha, and growing the yeast culture in the absence of methanol.

[0579] In addition to encompassing host cells containing the vector constructs discussed herein, the invention also encompasses primary, secondary, and immortalized host cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalian origin, that have been engineered to delete or replace endogenous genetic material (e.g., coding sequence), and/or to include genetic material (e.g., heterologous polynucleotide sequences) that is operably associated with the polynucleotides of the invention, and which activates, alters, and/or amplifies endogenous polynucleotides. For example, techniques known in the art may be used to operably associate heterologous control regions (e.g., promoter and/or enhancer) and endogenous polynucleotide sequences via homologous recombination, resulting in the formation of a new transcription unit (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,761, issued Mar. 31, 1998; International Publication No. WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication No. WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989), the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties).

[0580] In addition, polypeptides of the invention can be chemically synthesized using techniques known in the art (e.g., see Creighton, 1983, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Principles, W.H. Freeman & Co., N.Y., and Hunkapiller et al., Nature, 310:105-111 (1984)). For example, a polypeptide corresponding to a fragment of a polypeptide sequence of the invention can be synthesized by use of a peptide synthesizer. Furthermore, if desired, nonclassical amino acids or chemical amino acid analogs can be introduced as a substitution or addition into the polypeptide sequence. Non-classical amino acids include, but are not limited to, to the D-isomers of the common amino acids, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, a-amino isobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, g-Abu, e-Ahx, 6amino hexanoic acid, Aib, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citrulline, homocitrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, b-alanine, fluoro-amino acids, designer amino acids such as b-methyl amino acids, Ca-methyl amino acids, Na-methyl amino acids, and amino acid analogs in general. Furthermore, the amino acid can be D (dextrorotary) or L (levorotary).

[0581] The invention encompasses polypeptides which are differentially modified during or after translation, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to an antibody molecule or other cellular ligand, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including but not limited, to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, NaBH₄; acetylation, formylation, oxidation, reduction; metabolic synthesis in the presence of tunicamycin; etc.

[0582] Additional post-translational modifications encompassed by the invention include, for example, e.g., N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, processing of N-terminal or C-terminal ends), attachment of chemical moieties to the amino acid backbone, chemical modifications of N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, and addition or deletion of an N-terminal methionine residue as a result of procaryotic host cell expression. The polypeptides may also be modified with a detectable label, such as an enzymatic, fluorescent, isotopic or affinity label to allow for detection and isolation of the protein.

[0583] Also provided by the invention are chemically modified derivatives of the polypeptides of the invention which may provide additional advantages such as increased solubility, stability and circulating time of the polypeptide, or decreased immunogenicity (see U.S. Pat. NO: 4,179,337). The chemical moieties for derivitization may be selected from water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol, ethylene glycol/propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol and the like. The polypeptides may be modified at random positions within the molecule, or at predetermined positions within the molecule and may include one, two, three or more attached chemical moieties.

[0584] The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched or unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling and manufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired, the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog).

[0585] The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties) should be attached to the protein with consideration of effects on functional or antigenic domains of the protein. There are a number of attachment methods available to those skilled in the art, e.g., EP 0 401 384, herein incorporated by reference (coupling PEG to G-CSF), see also Malik et al., Exp. Hematol. 20:1028-1035 (1992) (reporting pegylation of GM-CSF using tresyl chloride). For example, polyethylene glycol may be covalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, such as, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to which an activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acid residues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and the N-terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group may include aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminal amino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactive group for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecules. Preferred for therapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachment at the N-terminus or lysine group.

[0586] One may specifically desire proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus. Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the present composition, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycol molecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to protein (polypeptide) molecules in the reaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and the method of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein. The method of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i.e., separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary) may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from a population of pegylated protein molecules. Selective proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus modification may be accomplished by reductive alkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available for derivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reaction conditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at the N-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved.

[0587] The polypeptides of the invention may be in monomers or multimers (i.e., dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers). Accordingly, the present invention relates to monomers and multimers of the polypeptides of the invention, their preparation, and compositions (preferably, Therapeutics) containing them. In specific embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention are monomers, dimers, trimers or tetramers. In additional embodiments, the multimers of the invention are at least dimers, at least trimers, or at least tetramers.

[0588] Multimers encompassed by the invention may be homomers or heteromers. As used herein, the term homomer, refers to a multimer containing only polypeptides corresponding to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone (including fragments, variants, splice variants, and fusion proteins, corresponding to these polypeptides as described herein). These homomers may contain polypeptides having identical or different amino acid sequences. In a specific embodiment, a homomer of the invention is a multimer containing only polypeptides having an identical amino acid sequence. In another specific embodiment, a homomer of the invention is a multimer containing polypeptides having different amino acid sequences. In specific embodiments, the multimer of the invention is a homodimer (e.g., containing polypeptides having identical or different amino acid sequences) or a homotrimer (e.g., containing polypeptides having identical and/or different amino acid sequences). In additional embodiments, the homomeric multimer of the invention is at least a homodimer, at least a homotrimer, or at least a homotetramer.

[0589] As used herein, the term heteromer refers to a multimer containing one or more heterologous polypeptides (i.e., polypeptides of different proteins) in addition to the polypeptides of the invention. In a specific embodiment, the multimer of the invention is a heterodimer, a heterotrimer, or a heterotetramer. In additional embodiments, the heteromeric multimer of the invention is at least a heterodimer, at least a heterotrimer, or at least a heterotetramer.

[0590] Multimers of the invention may be the result of hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent associations and/or may be indirectly linked, by for example, liposome formation. Thus, in one embodiment, multimers of the invention, such as, for example, homodimers or homotrimers, are formed when polypeptides of the invention contact one another in solution. In another embodiment, heteromultimers of the invention, such as, for example, heterotrimers or heterotetramers, are formed when polypeptides of the invention contact antibodies to the polypeptides of the invention (including antibodies to the heterologous polypeptide sequence in a fusion protein of the invention) in solution. In other embodiments, multimers of the invention are formed by covalent associations with and/or between the polypeptides of the invention. Such covalent associations may involve one or more amino acid residues contained in the polypeptide sequence (e.g., that recited in the sequence listing, or contained in the polypeptide encoded by a deposited clone). In one instance, the covalent associations are cross-linking between cysteine residues located within the polypeptide sequences which interact in the native (i.e., naturally occurring) polypeptide. In another instance, the covalent associations are the consequence of chemical or recombinant manipulation. Alternatively, such covalent associations may involve one or more amino acid residues contained in the heterologous polypeptide sequence in a fusion protein of the invention.

[0591] In one example, covalent associations are between the heterologous sequence contained in a fusion protein of the invention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925). In a specific example, the covalent associations are between the heterologous sequence contained in an Fc fusion protein of the invention (as described herein). In another specific example, covalent associations of fusion proteins of the invention are between heterologous polypeptide sequence from another protein that is capable of forming covalently associated multimers, such as for example, oseteoprotegerin (see, e.g., International Publication NO: WO 98/49305, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In another embodiment, two or more polypeptides of the invention are joined through peptide linkers. Examples include those peptide linkers described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,627 (hereby incorporated by reference). Proteins comprising multiple polypeptides of the invention separated by peptide linkers may be produced using conventional recombinant DNA technology.

[0592] Another method for preparing multimer polypeptides of the invention involves use of polypeptides of the invention fused to a leucine zipper or isoleucine zipper polypeptide sequence. Leucine zipper and isoleucine zipper domains are polypeptides that promote multimerization of the proteins in which they are found. Leucine zippers were originally identified in several DNA-binding proteins (Landschulz et al., Science 240:1759, (1988)), and have since been found in a variety of different proteins. Among the known leucine zippers are naturally occurring peptides and derivatives thereof that dimerize or trimerize. Examples of leucine zipper domains suitable for producing soluble multimeric proteins of the invention are those described in PCT application WO 94/10308, hereby incorporated by reference. Recombinant fusion proteins comprising a polypeptide of the invention fused to a polypeptide sequence that dimerizes or trimerizes in solution are expressed in suitable host cells, and the resulting soluble multimeric fusion protein is recovered from the culture supernatant using techniques known in the art.

[0593] Trimeric polypeptides of the invention may offer the advantage of enhanced biological activity. Preferred leucine zipper moieties and isoleucine moieties are those that preferentially form trimers. One example is a leucine zipper derived from lung surfactant protein D (SPD), as described in Hoppe et al. (FEBS Letters 344:191, (1994)) and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,922, hereby incorporated by reference. Other peptides derived from naturally occurring trimeric proteins may be employed in preparing trimeric polypeptides of the invention.

[0594] In another example, proteins of the invention are associated by interactions between Flag®D polypeptide sequence contained in fusion proteins of the invention containing Flag® polypeptide seuqence. In a further embodiment, associations proteins of the invention are associated by interactions between heterologous polypeptide sequence contained in Flag®D fusion proteins of the invention and anti-Flag® antibody.

[0595] The multimers of the invention may be generated using chemical techniques known in the art. For example, polypeptides desired to be contained in the multimers of the invention may be chemically cross-linked using linker molecules and linker molecule length optimization techniques known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). Additionally, multimers of the invention may be generated using techniques known in the art to form one or more inter-molecule cross-links between the cysteine residues located within the sequence of the polypeptides desired to be contained in the multimer (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). Further, polypeptides of the invention may be routinely modified by the addition of cysteine or biotin to the C terminus or N-terminus of the polypeptide and techniques known in the art may be applied to generate multimers containing one or more of these modified polypeptides (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). Additionally, techniques known in the art may be applied to generate liposomes containing the polypeptide components desired to be contained in the multimer of the invention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its' entirety).

[0596] Alternatively, multimers of the invention may be generated using genetic engineering techniques known in the art. In one embodiment, polypeptides contained in multimers of the invention are produced recombinantly using fusion protein technology described herein or otherwise known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides coding for a homodimer of the invention are generated by ligating a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention to a sequence encoding a linker polypeptide and then further to a synthetic polynucleotide encoding the translated product of the polypeptide in the reverse orientation from the original C-terminus to the N-terminus (lacking the leader sequence) (see, e.g., U.S. Pa. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In another embodiment, recombinant techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art are applied to generate recombinant polypeptides of the invention which contain a transmembrane domain (or hyrophobic or signal peptide) and which can be incorporated by membrane reconstitution techniques into liposomes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).

[0597] Uses of the Polynucleotides

[0598] Each of the polynucleotides identified herein can be used in numerous ways as reagents. The following description should be considered exemplary and utilizes known techniques.

[0599] The polynucleotides of the present invention are useful for chromosome identification. There exists an ongoing need to identify new chromosome markers, since few chromosome marking reagents, based on actual sequence data (repeat polymorphisms), are presently available. Each polynucleotide of the present invention can be used as a chromosome marker.

[0600] Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:X. Primers can be selected using computer analysis so that primers do not span more than one predicted exon in the genomic DNA. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the human gene corresponding to the SEQ ID NO:X will yield an amplified fragment.

[0601] Similarly, somatic hybrids provide a rapid method of PCR mapping the polynucleotides to particular chromosomes. Three or more clones can be assigned per day using a single thermal cycler. Moreover, sublocalization of the polynucleotides can be achieved with panels of specific chromosome fragments. Other gene mapping strategies that can be used include in situ hybridization, prescreening with labeled flow-sorted chromosomes, and preselection by hybridization to construct chromosome specific-cDNA libraries.

[0602] Precise chromosomal location of the polynucleotides can also be achieved using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a metaphase chromosomal spread. This technique uses polynucleotides as short as 500 or 600 bases; however, polynucleotides 2,000-4,000 bp are preferred. For a review of this technique, see Verma et al., “Human Chromosomes: a Manual of Basic Techniques,” Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

[0603] For chromosome mapping, the polynucleotides can be used individually (to mark a single chromosome or a single site on that chromosome) or in panels (for marking multiple sites and/or multiple chromosomes). Preferred polynucleotides correspond to the noncoding regions of the cDNAs because the coding sequences are more likely conserved within gene families, thus increasing the chance of cross hybridization during chromosomal mapping.

[0604] Once a polynucleotide has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location, the physical position of the polynucleotide can be used in linkage analysis. Linkage analysis establishes coinheritance between a chromosomal location and presentation of a particular disease. (Disease mapping data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, Mendelian Inheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library).) Assuming 1 megabase mapping resolution and one gene per 20 kb, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal region associated with the disease could be one of 50-500 potential causative genes.

[0605] Thus, once coinheritance is established, differences in the polynucleotide and the corresponding gene between affected and unaffected individuals can be examined. First, visible structural alterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations, are examined in chromosome spreads or by PCR. If no structural alterations exist, the presence of point mutations are ascertained. Mutations observed in some or all affected individuals, but not in normal individuals, indicates that the mutation may cause the disease. However, complete sequencing of the polypeptide and the corresponding gene from several normal individuals is required to distinguish the mutation from a polymorphism. If a new polymorphism is identified, this polymorphic polypeptide can be used for further linkage analysis.

[0606] Furthermore, increased or decreased expression of the gene in affected individuals as compared to unaffected individuals can be assessed using polynucleotides of the present invention. Any of these alterations (altered expression, chromosomal rearrangement, or mutation) can be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker.

[0607] Thus, the invention also provides a diagnostic method useful during diagnosis of a disorder, involving measuring the expression level of polynucleotides of the present invention in cells or body fluid from an individual and comparing the measured gene expression level with a standard level of polynucleotide expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the gene expression level compared to the standard is indicative of a disorder.

[0608] In still another embodiment, the invention includes a kit for analyzing samples for the presence of proliferative and/or cancerous polynucleotides derived from a test subject. In a general embodiment, the kit includes at least one polynucleotide probe containing a nucleotide sequence that will specifically hybridize with a polynucleotide of the present invention and a suitable container. In a specific embodiment, the kit includes two polynucleotide probes defining an internal region of the polynucleotide of the present invention, where each probe has one strand containing a 31′mer-end internal to the region. In a further embodiment, the probes may be useful as primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification.

[0609] Where a diagnosis of a disorder, has already been made according to conventional methods, the present invention is useful as a prognostic indicator, whereby patients exhibiting enhanced or depressed polynucleotide of the present invention expression will experience a worse clinical outcome relative to patients expressing the gene at a level nearer the standard level.

[0610] By “measuring the expression level of polynucleotide of the present invention” is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuring or estimating the level of the polypeptide of the present invention or the level of the mRNA encoding the polypeptide in a first biological sample either directly (e.g., by determining or estimating absolute protein level or mRNA level) or relatively (e.g., by comparing to the polypeptide level or mRNA level in a second biological sample). Preferably, the polypeptide level or mRNA level in the first biological sample is measured or estimated and compared to a standard polypeptide level or mRNA level, the standard being taken from a second biological sample obtained from an individual not having the disorder or being determined by averaging levels from a population of individuals not having a disorder. As will be appreciated in the art, once a standard polypeptide level or mRNA level is known, it can be used repeatedly as a standard for comparison.

[0611] By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained from an individual, body fluid, cell line, tissue culture, or other source which contains the polypeptide of the present invention or mRNA. As indicated, biological samples include body fluids (such as semen, lymph, sera, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) which contain the polypeptide of the present invention, and other tissue sources found to express the polypeptide of the present invention. Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals are well known in the art. Where the biological sample is to include mRNA, a tissue biopsy is the preferred source.

[0612] The method(s) provided above may preferrably be applied in a diagnostic method and/or kits in which polynucleotides and/or polypeptides are attached to a solid support. In one exemplary method, the support may be a “gene chip” or a “biological chip” as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,832, 5,874,219, and 5,856,174. Further, such a gene chip with polynucleotides of the present invention attached may be used to identify polymorphisms between the polynucleotide sequences, with polynucleotides isolated from a test subject. The knowledge of such polymorphisms (i.e. their location, as well as, their existence) would be beneficial in identifying disease loci for many disorders, including cancerous diseases and conditions. Such a method is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,858,659 and 5,856,104. The U.S. patents referenced supra are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

[0613] The present invention encompasses polynucleotides of the present invention that are chemically synthesized, or reproduced as peptide nucleic acids (PNA), or according to other methods known in the art. The use of PNAs would serve as the preferred form if the polynucleotides are incorporated onto a solid support, or gene chip. For the purposes of the present invention, a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a polyamide type of DNA analog and the monomeric units for adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine are available commercially (Perceptive Biosystems). Certain components of DNA, such as phosphorus, phosphorus oxides, or deoxyribose derivatives, are not present in PNAs. As disclosed by P. E. Nielsen, M. Egholm, R. H. Berg and O. Buchardt, Science 254, 1497 (1991); and M. Egholm, O. Buchardt, L. Christensen, C. Behrens, S. M. Freier, D. A. Driver, R. H. Berg, S. K. Kim, B. Norden, and P. E. Nielsen, Nature 365, 666 (1993), PNAs bind specifically and tightly to complementary DNA strands and are not degraded by nucleases. In fact, PNA binds more strongly to DNA than DNA itself does. This is probably because there is no electrostatic repulsion between the two strands, and also the polyamide backbone is more flexible. Because of this, PNA/DNA duplexes bind under a wider range of stringency conditions than DNA/DNA duplexes, making it easier to perform multiplex hybridization. Smaller probes can be used than with DNA due to the strong binding. In addition, it is more likely that single base mismatches can be determined with PNA/DNA hybridization because a single mismatch in a PNA/DNA 15-mer lowers the melting point (T.sub.m) by 8°-20° C., vs. 4°-16° C. for the DNA/DNA 15-mer duplex. Also, the absence of charge groups in PNA means that hybridization can be done at low ionic strengths and reduce possible interference by salt during the analysis.

[0614] The present invention is useful for detecting cancer in mammals. In particular the invention is useful during diagnosis of pathological cell proliferative neoplasias which include, but are not limited to: acute myelogenous leukemias including acute monocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acute erythroleukemia, acute megakaryocytic leukemia, and acute undifferentiated leukemia, etc.; and chronic myelogenous leukemias including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia, etc. Preferred mammals include monkeys, apes, cats, dogs, cows, pigs, horses, rabbits and humans. Particularly preferred are humans.

[0615] Pathological cell proliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions are often associated with inappropriate activation of proto-oncogenes. (Gelmann, E. P. et al., “The Etiology of Acute Leukemia: Molecular Genetics and Viral Oncology,” in Neoplastic Diseases of the Blood, Vol 1., Wiernik, P. H. et al. eds., 161-182 (1985)). Neoplasias are now believed to result from the qualitative alteration of a normal cellular gene product, or from the quantitative modification of gene expression by insertion into the chromosome of a viral sequence, by chromosomal translocation of a gene to a more actively transcribed region, or by some other mechanism. (Gelmann et al., supra) It is likely that mutated or altered expression of specific genes is involved in the pathogenesis of some leukemias, among other tissues and cell types. (Gelmann et al., supra) Indeed, the human counterparts of the oncogenes involved in some animal neoplasias have been amplified or translocated in some cases of human leukemia and carcinoma. (Gelmann et al., supra)

[0616] For example, c-myc expression is highly amplified in the non-lymphocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. When HL-60 cells are chemically induced to stop proliferation, the level of c-myc is found to be downregulated. (International Publication Number WO 91/15580) However, it has been shown that exposure of HL-60 cells to a DNA construct that is complementary to the 5′ end of c-myc or c-myb blocks translation of the corresponding mRNAs which downregulates expression of the c-myc or c-myb proteins and causes arrest of cell proliferation and differentiation of the treated cells. (International Publication Number WO 91/15580; Wickstrom et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:1028 (1988); Anfossi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86:3379 (1989)). However, the skilled artisan would appreciate the present invention's usefulness would not be limited to treatment of proliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of hematopoietic cells and tissues, in light of the numerous cells and cell types of varying origins which are known to exhibit proliferative phenotypes.

[0617] In addition to the foregoing, a polynucleotide can be used to control gene expression through triple helix formation or antisense DNA or RNA. Antisense techniques are discussed, for example, in Okano, J. Neurochem. 56: 560 (1991); “Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression,CRCPress, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Triple helix formation is discussed in, for instance Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Research 6: 3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241: 456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251: 1360 (1991). Both methods rely on binding of the polynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA. For these techniques, preferred polynucleotides are usually oligonucleotides 20 to 40 bases in length and complementary to either the region of the gene involved in transcription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241:456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251:1360 (1991)) or to the mRNA itself (antisense—Okano, J. Neurochem. 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxy-nucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988).) Triple helix formation optimally results in a shut-off of RNA transcription from DNA, while antisense RNA hybridization blocks translation of an mRNA molecule into polypeptide. Both techniques are effective in model systems, and the information disclosed herein can be used to design antisense or triple helix polynucleotides in an effort to treat or prevent disease.

[0618] Polynucleotides of the present invention are also useful in gene therapy. One goal of gene therapy is to insert a normal gene into an organism having a defective gene, in an effort to correct the genetic defect. The polynucleotides disclosed in the present invention offer a means of targeting such genetic defects in a highly accurate manner. Another goal is to insert a new gene that was not present in the host genome, thereby producing a new trait in the host cell.

[0619] The polynucleotides are also useful for identifying individuals from minute biological samples. The United States military, for example, is considering the use of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for identification of its personnel. In this technique, an individual's genomic DNA is digested with one or more restriction enzymes, and probed on a Southern blot to yield unique bands for identifying personnel. This method does not suffer from the current limitations of “Dog Tags” which can be lost, switched, or stolen, making positive identification difficult. The polynucleotides of the present invention can be used as additional DNA markers for RFLP.

[0620] The polynucleotides of the present invention can also be used as an alternative to RFLP, by determining the actual base-by-base DNA sequence of selected portions of an individual's genome. These sequences can be used to prepare PCR primers for amplifying and isolating such selected DNA, which can then be sequenced. Using this technique, individuals can be identified because each individual will have a unique set of DNA sequences. Once an unique ID database is established for an individual, positive identification of that individual, living or dead, can be made from extremely small tissue samples.

[0621] Forensic biology also benefits from using DNA-based identification techniques as disclosed herein. DNA sequences taken from very small biological samples such as tissues, e.g., hair or skin, or body fluids, e.g., blood, saliva, semen, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, breast milk, lymph, pulmonary sputum or surfactant,urine,fecal matter, etc., can be amplified using PCR. In one prior art technique, gene sequences amplified from polymorphic loci, such as DQa class II HLA gene, are used in forensic biology to identify individuals. (Erlich, H., PCR Technology, Freeman and Co. (1992).) Once these specific polymorphic loci are amplified, they are digested with one or more restriction enzymes, yielding an identifying set of bands on a Southern blot probed with DNA corresponding to the DQa class II HLA gene. Similarly, polynucleotides of the present invention can be used as polymorphic markers for forensic purposes.

[0622] There is also a need for reagents capable of identifying the source of a particular tissue. Such need arises, for example, in forensics when presented with tissue of unknown origin. Appropriate reagents can comprise, for example, DNA probes or primers specific to particular tissue prepared from the sequences of the present invention. Panels of such reagents can identify tissue by species and/or by organ type. In a similar fashion, these reagents can be used to screen tissue cultures for contamination.

[0623] In the very least, the polynucleotides of the present invention can be used as molecular weight markers on Southern gels, as diagnostic probes for the presence of a specific mRNA in a particular cell type, as a probe to “subtract-out” known sequences in the process of discovering novel polynucleotides, for selecting and making oligomers for attachment to a “gene chip” or other support, to raise anti-DNA antibodies using DNA immunization techniques, and as an antigen to elicit an immune response.

[0624] Uses of the Polypeptides

[0625] Each of the polypeptides identified herein can be used in numerous ways. The following description should be considered exemplary and utilizes known techniques.

[0626] A polypeptide of the present invention can be used to assay protein levels in a biological sample using antibody-based techniques. For example, protein expression in tissues can be studied with classical immunohistological methods. (Jalkanen, M., et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, M., et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987).) Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein gene expression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase, and radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C), sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99mTc), and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

[0627] In addition to assaying secreted protein levels in a biological sample, proteins can also be detected in vivo by imaging. Antibody labels or markers for in vivo imaging of protein include those detectable by X-radiography, NMR or ESR. For X-radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes such as barium or cesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not overtly harmful to the subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with a detectable characteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may be incorporated into the antibody by labeling of nutrients for the relevant hybridoma.

[0628] A protein-specific antibody or antibody fragment which has been labeled with an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as a radioisotope (for example, 131I, 112In, 99mTc), a radio-opaque substance, or a material detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, is introduced (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally) into the mammal. It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99mTc. The labeled antibody or antibody fragment will then preferentially accumulate at the location of cells which contain the specific protein. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982).)

[0629] Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method of a disorder, which involves (a) assaying the expression of a polypeptide of the present invention in cells or body fluid of an individual; (b) comparing the level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared to the standard expression level is indicative of a disorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively high amount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicate a predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide a means for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actual clinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allow health professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressive treatment earlier thereby preventing the development or further progression of the cancer.

[0630] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose disease. For example, patients can be administered a polypeptide of the present invention in an effort to replace absent ordecreased levels of the polypeptide (e.g., insulin), to supplement absent or decreased levels of a different polypeptide (e.g., hemoglobin S for hemoglobin B, SOD, catalase, DNA repair proteins), to inhibit the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., an oncogene or tumor supressor), to activate-the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., by binding to a receptor), to reduce the activity of a membrane bound receptor by competing with it for free ligand (e.g., soluble TNF receptors used in reducing inflammation), or to bring about a desired response (e.g., blood vessel growth inhibition, enhancement of the immune response to proliferative cells or tissues).

[0631] Similarly, antibodies directed to a polypeptide of the present invention can also be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose disease. For example, administration of an antibody directed to a polypeptide of the present invention can bind and reduce overproduction of the polypeptide. Similarly, administration of an antibody can activate the polypeptide, such as by binding to a polypeptide bound to a membrane (receptor).

[0632] At the very least, the polypeptides of the present invention can be used as molecular weight markers on SDS-PAGE gels or on molecular sieve gel filtration columns using methods well known to those of skill in the art. Polypeptides can also be used to raise antibodies, which in turn are used to measure protein expression from a recombinant cell, as a way of assessing transformation of the host cell. Moreover, the polypeptides of the present invention can be used to test the following biological activities.

[0633] Gene Therapy Methods

[0634] Another aspect of the present invention is to gene therapy methods for treatingor preventing disorders, diseases and conditions. The gene therapy methods relate to the introduction of nucleic acid (DNA, RNA and antisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to achieve expression of a polypeptide of the present invention. This method requires a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide of the invention that operatively linked to a promoter and any other genetic elements necessary for the expression of the polypeptide by the target tissue. Such gene therapy and delivery techniques are known in the art, see, for example, WO90/11092, which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0635] Thus, for example, cells from a patient may be engineered with a polynucleotide (DNA or RNA) comprising a promoter operably linked to a polynucleotide of the invention ex vivo, with the engineered cells then being provided to a patient to be treated with the polypeptide. Such methods are well-known in the art. For example, see Belldegrun et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 85:207-216 (1993); Ferrantini et al., Cancer Research, 53:107-1112 (1993); Ferrantini et al., J. Immunology 153: 4604-4615 (1994); Kaido, T., et al., Int. J. Cancer 60: 221-229 (1995); Ogura et al., Cancer Research 50: 5102-5106 (1990); Santodonato, et al., Human Gene Therapy 7:1-10 (1996); Santodonato, et al., Gene Therapy 4:1246-1255 (1997); and Zhang, et al., Cancer Gene Therapy 3: 31-38 (1996)), which are herein incorporated by reference. In one embodiment, the cells which are engineered are arterial cells. The arterial cells may be reintroduced into the patient through direct injection to the artery, the tissues surrounding the artery, or through catheter injection.

[0636] As discussed in more detail below, the polynucleotide constructs can be delivered by any method that delivers injectable materials to the cells of an animal, such as, injection into the interstitial space of tissues (heart, muscle, skin, lung, liver, and the like). The polynucleotide constructs may be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid or aqueous carrier.

[0637] In one embodiment, the polynucleotide of the invention is delivered as a naked polynucleotide. The term “naked” polynucleotide, DNA or RNA refers to sequences that are free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote or facilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. However, the polynucleotides of the invention can also be delivered in liposome formulations and lipofectin formulations and the like can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and 5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0638] The polynucleotide vector constructs of the invention used in the gene therapy method are preferably constructs that will not integrate into the host genome nor will they contain sequences that allow for replication. Appropriate vectors include pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available from Stratagene; pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia; and pEF1/V5, pcDNA3.1, and pRc/CMV2 available from Invitrogen. Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

[0639] Any strong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used for driving the expression of polynucleotide sequence of the invention. Suitable promoters include adenoviral promoters, such as the adenoviral major late promoter; or heterologous promoters, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) promoter; inducible promoters, such as the MMT promoter, the metallothionein promoter; heat shock promoters; the albumin promoter; the ApoAI promoter; human globin promoters; viral thymidine kinase promoters, such as the Herpes Simplex thymidine kinase promoter; retroviral LTRs; the b-actin promoter; and human growth hormone promoters. The promoter also may be the native promoter for the polynucleotides of the invention.

[0640] Unlike other gene therapy techniques, one major advantage of introducing naked nucleic acid sequences into target cells is the transitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis in the cells. Studies have shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can be introduced into cells to provide production of the desired polypeptide for periods of up to six months.

[0641] The polynucleotide construct of the invention can be delivered to the interstitial space of tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone, cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis, ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connective tissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellular, fluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organ tissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagen fibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissue ensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly the space occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid of the lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscle tissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may be conveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising these cells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent, non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery and expression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completely differentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skin fibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in their ability to take up and express polynucleotides.

[0642] For the nakednucleic acid sequence injection, an effective dosage amount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 mg/kg body weight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be from about 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site of injection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequence can readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and may depend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.

[0643] The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route of injection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, other parenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosol formulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues, throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked DNA constructs can be delivered to arteries during angioplasty by the catheter used in the procedure.

[0644] The naked polynucleotides are delivered by any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the delivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, and so-called “gene guns”. These delivery methods are known in the art.

[0645] The constructs may also be delivered with delivery vehicles such as viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin, precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in the art.

[0646] In certain embodiments, the polynucleotide constructs of the invention are complexed in a liposome preparation. Liposomal preparations for use in the instant invention include cationic (positively charged), anionic (negatively charged) and neutral preparations. However, cationic liposomes are particularly preferred because a tight charge complex can be formed between the cationic liposome and the polyanionic nucleic acid. Cationic liposomes have been shown to mediate intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA (Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference); mRNA (Malone et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:6077-6081 (1989), which is herein incorporated by reference); and purified transcription factors (Debs et al., J. Biol. Chem., 265:10189-10192 (1990), which is herein incorporated by reference), in functional form.

[0647] Cationic liposomes are readily available. For example, N[1-2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) liposomes are particularly useful and are available under the trademark Lipofectin, from GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, N.Y. (See, also, Felgner et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporated by reference). Other commercially available liposomes include transfectace (DDAB/DOPE) and DOTAP/DOPE (Boehringer).

[0648] Other cationic liposomes can be prepared from readily available materials using techniques well known in the art. See, e.g. PCT Publication NO: WO 90/11092 (which is herein incorporated by reference) for a description of the synthesis of DOTAP (1,2-bis(oleoyloxy)-3-(trimethylammonio)propane) liposomes. Preparation of DOTMA liposomes is explained in the literature, see, e.g., Feigner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7417, which is herein incorporated by reference. Similar methods can be used to prepare liposomes from other cationic lipid materials.

[0649] Similarly, anionic and neutral liposomes are readily available, such as from Avanti Polar Lipids (Birmingham, Ala.), or can be easily prepared using readily available materials. Such materials include phosphatidyl, choline, cholesterol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), dioleoylphoshatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), among others. These materials can also be mixed with the DOTMA and DOTAP starting materials in appropriate ratios. Methods for making liposomes using these materials are well known in the art.

[0650] For example, commercially dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) can be used in various combinations to make conventional liposomes, with or without the addition of cholesterol. Thus, for example, DOPG/DOPC vesicles can be prepared by drying 50 mg each of DOPG and DOPC under a stream of nitrogen gas into a sonication vial. The sample is placed under a vacuum pump overnight and is hydrated the following day with deionized water. The sample is then sonicated for 2 hours in a capped vial, using a Heat Systems model 350 sonicator equipped with an inverted cup (bath type) probe at the maximum setting while the bath is circulated at 15EC. Alternatively, negatively charged vesicles can be prepared without sonication to produce multilamellar vesicles or by extrusion through nucleopore membranes to produce unilamellar vesicles of discrete size. Other methods are known and available to those of skill in the art.

[0651] The liposomes can comprise multilamellar vesicles (MLVs), small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs), or large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), with SUVs being preferred. The various liposome-nucleic acid complexes are prepared using methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Straubinger et al., Methods of Immunology, 101:512-527 (1983), which is herein incorporated by reference. For example, MLVs containing nucleic acid can be prepared by depositing a thin film of phospholipid on the walls of a glass tube and subsequently hydrating with a solution of the material to be encapsulated. SUVs are prepared by extended sonication of MLVs to produce a homogeneous population of unilamellar liposomes. The material to be entrapped is added to a suspension of preformed MLVs and then sonicated. When using liposomes containing cationic lipids, the dried lipid film is resuspended in an appropriate solution such as sterile water or an isotonic buffer solution such as 10 mM Tris/NaCl, sonicated, and then the preformed liposomes are mixed directly with the DNA. The liposome and DNA form a very stable complex due to binding of the positively charged liposomes to the cationic DNA. SUVs find use with small nucleic acid fragments. LUVs are prepared by a number of methods, well known in the art. Commonly used methods include Ca²⁺-EDTA chelation (Papahadjopoulos et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 394:483 (1975); Wilson et al., Cell, 17:77 (1979)); ether injection (Deamer et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 443:629 (1976); Ostro et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 76:836 (1977); Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:3348 (1979)); detergent dialysis (Enoch et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:145 (1979)); and reverse-phase evaporation (REV) (Fraley et al., J. Biol. Chem., 255:10431 (1980); Szoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75:145 (1978); Schaefer-Ridder et al., Science, 215:166 (1982)), which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0652] Generally, the ratio of DNA to liposomes will be from about 10:1 to about 1:10. Preferably, the ration will be from about 5:1 to about 1:5. More preferably, the ration will be about 3:1 to about 1:3. Still more preferably, the ratio will be about 1:1.

[0653] U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,954 (which is herein incorporated by reference) reports on the injection of genetic material, complexed with cationic liposomes carriers, into mice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,355, 4,946,787, 5,049,386, 5,459,127, 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, and international publication NO: WO 94/9469 (which are herein incorporated by reference) provide cationic lipids for use in transfecting DNA into cells and mammals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, and international publication NO: WO 94/9469 (which are herein incorporated by reference) provide methods for delivering DNA-cationic lipid complexes to mammals.

[0654] In certain embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, using a retroviral particle containing RNA which comprises a sequence encoding polypeptides of the invention. Retroviruses from which the retroviral plasmid vectors may be derived include, but are not limited to, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus, spleen necrosis virus, Rous sarcoma Virus, Harvey Sarcoma Virus, avian leukosis virus, gibbon ape leukemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Myeloproliferative Sarcoma Virus, and mammary tumor virus.

[0655] The retroviral plasmid vector is employed to transduce packaging cell lines to form producer cell lines. Examples of packaging cells which may be transfected include, but are not limited to, the PE501, PA317, R-2, R-AM, PA12, T19-14X, VT-19-17-H2, RCRE, RCRIP, GP+E-86, GP+envAm12, and DAN cell lines as described in Miller, Human Gene Therapy, 1:5-14 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The vector may transduce the packaging cells through any means known in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to, electroporation, the use of liposomes, and CaPO₄ precipitation. In one alternative, the retroviral plasmid vector may be encapsulated into a liposome, or coupled to a lipid, and then administered to a host.

[0656] The producer cell line generates infectious retroviral vector particles which include polynucleotide encoding polypeptides of the invention. Such retroviral vector particles then may be employed, to transduce eukaryotic cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The transduced eukaryotic cells will express polypeptides of the invention.

[0657] In certain other embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, with polynucleotides of the invention contained in an adenovirus vector. Adenovirus can be manipulated such that it encodes and expresses polypeptides of the invention, and at the same time is inactivated in terms of its ability to replicate in a normal lytic viral life cycle. Adenovirus expression is achieved without integration of the viral DNA into the host cell chromosome, thereby alleviating concerns about insertional mutagenesis. Furthermore, adenoviruses have been used as live enteric vaccines for many years with an excellent safety profile (Schwartzet al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 109:233-238 (1974)). Finally, adenovirus mediated gene transfer has been demonstrated in a number of instances including transfer of alpha-1-antitrypsin and CFTR to the lungs of cotton rats (Rosenfeld et al.,Science, 252:431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell, 68:143-155 (1992)). Furthermore, extensive studies to attempt to establish adenovirus as a causative agent in human cancer were uniformly negative (Green et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 76:6606 (1979)).

[0658] Suitable adenoviral vectors useful in the present invention are described, for example, in Kozarsky and Wilson, Curr. Opin. Genet. Devel., 3:499-503 (1993); Rosenfeld et al., Cell, 68:143-155 (1992); Engelhardt et al., Human Genet. Ther., 4:759-769 (1993); Yang et al., Nature Genet., 7:362-369 (1994); Wilson et al., Nature, 365:691-692 (1993); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,224, which are herein incorporated by reference. For example, the adenovirus vector Ad2 is useful and can be grown in human 293 cells. These cells contain the E1 region of adenovirus and constitutively express E1a and E1b, which complement the defective adenoviruses by providing the products of the genes deleted from the vector. In addition to Ad2, other varieties of adenovirus (e.g., Ad3, Ad5, and Ad7) are also useful in the present invention.

[0659] Preferably, the adenoviruses used in the present invention are replication deficient. Replication deficient adenoviruses require the aid of a helper virus and/or packaging cell line to form infectious particles. The resulting virus is capable of infecting cells and can express a polynucleotide of interest which is operably linked to a promoter, but cannot replicate in most cells. Replication deficient adenoviruses may be deleted in one or more of all or a portion of the following genes: E1a, E1b, E3, E4, E2a, or L1 through L5.

[0660] In certain other embodiments, the cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, using an adeno-associated virus (AAV). AAVs are naturally occurring defective viruses that require helper viruses to produce infectious particles (Muzyczka, Curr. Topics in Microbiol. Immunol., 158:97 (1992)). It isalso one of the few viruses that may integrate its DNA into non-dividing cells. Vectors containing as little as 300 base pairs of AAV can be packaged and can integrate, but space for exogenous DNA is limited to about 4.5 kb. Methods for producing and using such AAVs are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,139,941, 5,173,414, 5,354,678, 5,436,146, 5,474,935, 5,478,745, and 5,589,377.

[0661] For example, an appropriate AAV vector for use in the present invention will include all the sequences necessary for DNA replication, encapsidation, and host-cell integration. The polynucleotide construct containing polynucleotides of the invention is inserted into the AAV vector using standard cloning methods, such as those found in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989). The recombinant AAV vector is then transfected into packaging cells which are infected with a helper virus, using any standard technique, including lipofection, electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, etc. Appropriate helper viruses include adenoviruses, cytomegaloviruses, vaccinia viruses, or herpes viruses. Once the packaging cells are transfected and infected, they will produce infectious AAV viral particles which contain the polynucleotide construct of the invention. These viral particles are then used to transduce eukaryotic cells, either ex vivo or in vivo. The transduced cells will contain the polynucleotide construct integrated into its genome, and will express the desired gene product.

[0662] Another method of gene therapy involves operably associating heterologous control regions and endogenous polynucleotide sequences (e.g. encoding the polypeptide sequence of interest) via homologous recombination (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; International Publication NO: WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication NO: WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature, 342:435438 (1989). This method involves the activation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which is not normally expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower level than desired.

[0663] Polynucleotide constructs are made, using standard techniques known in the art, which contain the promoter with targeting sequences flanking the promoter. Suitable promoters are described herein. The targeting sequence is sufficiently complementary to an endogenous sequence to permit homologous recombination of the promoter-targeting sequence with the endogenous sequence. The targeting sequence will be sufficiently near the 5′ end of the desired endogenous polynucleotide sequence so the promoter will be operably linked to the endogenous sequence upon homologous recombination.

[0664] The promoter and the targeting sequences can be amplified using PCR. Preferably, the amplified promoter contains distinct restriction enzyme sites on the 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the first targeting sequence contains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′ end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end of the second targeting sequence contains the same restriction site as the 3′ end of the amplified promoter. The amplified promoter and targeting sequences are digested and ligated together.

[0665] The promoter-targeting sequence construct is delivered to the cells, either as naked polynucleotide, or in conjunction with transfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences, viral particles, whole viruses, lipofection, precipitating agents, etc., described in more detail above. The P promoter-targeting sequence can be delivered by any method, included direct needle injection, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, particle accelerators, etc. The methods are described in more detail below.

[0666] The promoter-targeting sequence construct is taken up by cells. Homologous recombination between the construct and the endogenous sequence takes place, such that an endogenous sequence is placed under the control of the promoter. The promoter then drives the expression of the endogenous sequence.

[0667] The polynucleotides encoding polypeptides of the present invention may be administered along with other polynucleotides encoding other angiongenic proteins. Angiogenic proteins include, but are not limited to, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, VEGF-1, VEGF-2 (VEGF-C), VEGF-3 (VEGF-B), epidermal growth factor alpha and beta, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, hepatocyte growth factor, insulin like growth factor, colony stimulating factor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor, and nitric oxide synthase.

[0668] Preferably, the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the invention contains a secretory signal sequence that facilitates secretion of the protein. Typically, the signal sequence is positioned in the coding region of the polynucleotide to be expressed towards or at the 5′ end of the coding region. The signal sequence may be homologous or heterologous to the polynucleotide of interest and may be homologous or heterologous to the cells to be transfected. Additionally, the signal sequence may be chemically synthesized using methods known in the art.

[0669] Any mode of administration of any of the above-described polynucleotides constructs can be used so long as the mode results in the expression of one or more molecules in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. This includes direct needle injection, systemic injection, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators (i.e., “gene guns”), gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps (e.g., Alza minipumps), oral or suppositorial solid (tablet or pill) pharmaceutical formulations, and decanting or topical applications during surgery. For example, direct injection of naked calcium phosphate-precipitated plasmid into rat liver and rat spleen or a protein-coated plasmid into the portal vein has resulted in gene expression of the foreign gene in the rat livers. (Kaneda et al., Science, 243:375 (1989)).

[0670] A preferred method of local administration is by direct injection. Preferably, a recombinant molecule of the present invention complexed with a delivery vehicle is administered by direct injection into or locally within the area of arteries. Administration of a composition locally within the area of arteries refers to injecting the composition centimeters and preferably, millimeters within arteries.

[0671] Another method of local administration is to contact a polynucleotide construct of the present invention in or around a surgical wound. For example, a patient can undergo surgery and the polynucleotide construct can be coated on the surface of tissue inside the wound or the construct can be injected into areas of tissue inside the wound.

[0672] Therapeutic compositions useful in systemic administration, include recombinant molecules of the present invention complexed to a targeted delivery vehicle of the present invention. Suitable delivery vehicles for use with systemic administration comprise liposomes comprising ligands for targeting the vehicle to a particular site.

[0673] Preferred methods of systemic administration, include intravenous injection, aerosol, oral and percutaneous (topical) delivery. Intravenous injections can be performed using methods standard in the art. Aerosol delivery can also be performed using methods standard in the art (see, for example, Stribling et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 189:11277-11281(1992), which is incorporated herein by reference). Oral delivery can be performed by complexing a polynucleotide construct of the present invention to a carrier capable of withstanding degradation by digestive enzymes in the gut of an animal. Examples of such carriers, include plastic capsules or tablets, such as those known in the art. Topical delivery can be performed by mixing a polynucleotide construct of the present invention with a lipophilic reagent (e.g., DMSO) that is capable of passing into the skin.

[0674] Determining an effective amount of substance to be delivered can depend upon a number of factors including, for example, the chemical structure and biological activity of the substance, the age and weight of the animal, the precise condition requiring treatment and its severity, and the route of administration. The frequency of treatments depends upon a number of factors, such as the amount of polynucleotide constructs administered per dose, as well as the health and history of the subject. The precise amount, number of doses, and timing of doses will be determined by the attending physician or veterinarian. Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered to any animal, preferably to mammals and birds. Preferred mammals include humans, dogs, cats, mice, rats, rabbits sheep, cattle, horses and pigs, with humans being particularly

[0675] Biological Activities

[0676] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used in assays to test for one or more biological activities. If these polynucleotides and polypeptides do exhibit activity in a particular assay, it is likely that these molecules may be involved in the diseases associated with the biological activity. Thus, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists could be used to treat the associated disease.

[0677] Immune Activity

[0678] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of the immune system, by activating or inhibiting the proliferation, differentiation, or mobilization (chemotaxis) of immune cells. Immune cells develop through a process called hematopoiesis, producing myeloid (platelets, red blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) and lymphoid (B and T lymphocytes) cells from pluripotent stem cells. The etiology of these immune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer or some autoimmune diseases, disorders,and/or conditions, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy or toxins), or infectious. Moreover, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used as a marker or detector of a particular immune system disease or disorder.

[0679] A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing diseases, disorders, and/or conditions of hematopoietic cells. A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention could be used to increase differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effort to treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with a decrease in certain (or many) types hematopoietic cells. Examples of immunologic deficiency syndromes include, but are not limited to: blood protein diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g. agammaglobulinemia, dysgammaglobulinemia), ataxia telangiectasia, common variable immunodeficiency, Digeorge Syndrome, HIV infection, HTLV-BLV infection, leukocyte adhesion deficiency syndrome, lymphopenia, phagocyte bactericidal dysfunction, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCIDs), Wiskott-Aldrich Disorder, anemia, thrombocytopenia, or hemoglobinuria.

[0680] Moreover, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention could also be used to modulate hemostatic (the stopping of bleeding) or thrombolytic activity (clot formation). For example, by increasing hemostatic or thrombolytic activity, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention could be used to treat or prevent blood coagulation diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., afibrinogenemia, factor deficiencies), blood platelet diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g. thrombocytopenia), or wounds resulting from trauma, surgery, or other causes. Alternatively, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention that can decrease hemostatic or thrombolytic activity could be used to inhibit or dissolve clotting. These molecules could be important in the treatment or prevention of heart attacks (infarction), strokes, or scarring.

[0681] A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may also be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. Many autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions result from inappropriate recognition of self as foreign material by immune cells. This inappropriate recognition results in an immune response leading to the destruction of the host tissue. Therefore, the administration of a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention that inhibits an immune response, particularly the proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapy in preventing autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

[0682] Examples of autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed or detected by the present invention include, but are not limited to: Addison's Disease, hemolytic anemia, antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, allergic encephalomyelitis, glomerulonephritis, Goodpasture's Syndrome, Graves' Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Myasthenia Gravis, Neuritis, Ophthalmia, Bullous Pemphigoid, Pemphigus, Polyendocrinopathies, Purpura, Reiter's Disease, Stiff-Man Syndrome, Autoimmune Thyroiditis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Autoimmune Pulmonary Inflammation, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, insulin dependent diabetes mellitis, and autoimmune inflammatory eye disease.

[0683] Similarly, allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularly allergic asthma) or other respiratory problems, may also be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention. Moreover, these molecules can be used to treat anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity to an antigenic molecule, or blood group incompatibility.

[0684] A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may also be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose organ rejection or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Organ rejection occurs by host immune cell destruction of the transplanted tissue through an immune response. Similarly, an immune response is also involved in GVHD, but, in this case, the foreign transplanted immune cells destroy the host tissues. The administration of a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention that inhibits an immune response, particularly the proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapy in preventing organ rejection or GVHD.

[0685] Similarly, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may also be used to modulate inflammation. For example, the polypeptide or polynucleotide or agonists or antagonist may inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in an inflammatory response. These molecules can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose inflammatory conditions, both chronic and acute conditions, including chronic prostatitis, granulomatous prostatitis and malacoplakia, inflammation associated with infection (e.g., septic shock, sepsis, or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)), ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotoxin lethality, arthritis, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokine or chemokine induced lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, or resulting from over production of cytokines (e.g., TNF or IL-1.)

[0686] Hyperproliferative Disorders

[0687] A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, including neoplasms. A polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may inhibit the proliferation of the disorder through direct or indirect interactions. Alternatively, a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may proliferate other cells which can inhibit the hyperproliferative disorder.

[0688] For example, by increasing an immune response, particularly increasing antigenic qualities of the hyperproliferative disorder or by proliferating, differentiating, or mobilizing T-cells, hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed. This immune response may be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immune response. Alternatively, decreasing an immune response may also be a method of treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, such as a chemotherapeutic agent.

[0689] Examples of hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include, but are not limited to neoplasms located in the: colon, abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, liver, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous (central and peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvic, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thoracic, and urogenital.

[0690] Similarly, other hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions can also be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention. Examples of such hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions include, but are not limited to: hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphoproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, paraproteinemias, purpura, sarcoidosis, Sezary Syndrome, Waldenstron's Macroglobulinemia, Gaucher's Disease, histiocytosis, and any other hyperproliferative disease, besides neoplasia, located in an organ system listed above.

[0691] One preferred embodiment utilizes polynucleotides of the present invention to inhibit aberrant cellular division, by gene therapy using the present invention, and/or protein fusions or fragments thereof.

[0692] Thus, the present invention provides a method for treating or preventing cell proliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions by inserting into an abnormally proliferating cell a polynucleotide of the present invention, wherein said polynucleotide represses said expression.

[0693] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating or preventing cell-proliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions in individuals comprising administration of one or more active gene copies of the present invention to an abnormally proliferating cell or cells. In a preferred embodiment, polynucleotides of the present invention is a DNA construct comprising a recombinant expression vector effective in expressing a DNA sequence encoding said polynucleotides. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the DNA construct encoding the poynucleotides of the present invention is inserted into cells to be treated utilizing a retrovirus, or more preferrably an adenoviral vector (See G J. Nabel, et. al., PNAS 1999 96: 324-326, which is hereby incorporated by reference). In a most preferred embodiment, the viral vector is defective and will not transform non-proliferating cells, only proliferating cells. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotides of the present invention inserted into proliferating cells either alone, or in combination with or fused to other polynucleotides, can then be modulated via an external stimulus (i.e. magnetic, specific small molecule, chemical, or drug administration, etc.), which acts upon the promoter upstream of said polynucleotides to induce expression of the encoded protein product. As such the beneficial therapeutic affect of the present invention may be expressly modulated (i.e. to increase, decrease, or inhibit expression of the present invention) based upon said external stimulus.

[0694] Polynucleotides of the present invention may be useful in repressing expression of oncogenic genes or antigens. By “repressing expression of the oncogenic genes” is intended the suppression of the transcription of the gene, the degradation of the gene transcript (pre-message RNA), the inhibition of splicing, the destruction of the messenger RNA, the prevention of the post-translational modifications of the protein, the destruction of the protein, or the inhibition of the normal function of the protein.

[0695] For local administration to abnormally proliferating cells, polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered by any method known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited to transfection, electroporation, microinjection of cells, or in vehicles such as liposomes, lipofectin, or as naked polynucleotides, or any other method described throughout the specification. The polynucleotide of the present invention may be delivered by known gene delivery systems such as, but not limited to, retroviral vectors (Gilboa, J. Virology 44:845 (1982); Hocke, Nature 320:275 (1986); Wilson, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85:3014), vaccinia virus system (Chakrabarty et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 5:3403 (1985) or other efficient DNA delivery systems (Yates et al., Nature 313:812 (1985)) known to those skilled in the art. These references are exemplary only and are hereby incorporated by reference. In order to specifically deliver or transfect cells which are abnormally proliferating and spare non-dividing cells, it is preferable to utilize a retrovirus, or adenoviral (as described in the art and elsewhere herein) delivery system known to those of skill in the art. Since host DNA replication is required for retroviral DNA to integrate and the retrovirus will be unable to self replicate due to the lack of the retrovirus genes needed for its life cycle. Utilizing such a retroviral delivery system for polynucleotides of the present invention will target said gene and constructs to abnormally proliferating cells and will spare the non-dividing normal cells.

[0696] The polynucleotides of the present invention may be delivered directly to cell proliferative disorder/disease sites in internal organs, body cavities and the like by use of imaging devices used to guide an injecting needle directly to the disease site. The polynucleotides of the present invention may also be administered to disease sites at the time of surgical intervention.

[0697] By “cell proliferative disease” is meant any human or animal disease or disorder, affecting any one or any combination of organs, cavities, or body parts, which is characterized by single or multiple local abnormal proliferations of cells, groups of cells, or tissues, whether benign or malignant.

[0698] Any amount of the polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered as long as it has a biologically inhibiting effect on the proliferation of the treated cells. Moreover, it is possible to administer more than one of the polynucleotide of the present invention simultaneously to the same site. By “biologically inhibiting” is meant partial or total growth inhibition as well as decreases in the rate of proliferation or growth of the cells. The biologically inhibitory dose may be determined by assessing the effects of the polynucleotides of the present invention on target malignant or abnormally proliferating cell growth in tissue culture, tumor growth in animals and cell cultures, or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0699] The present invention is further directed to antibody-based therapies which involve administering of anti-polypeptides and anti-polynucleotide antibodies to a mammalian, preferably human, patient for treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing one or more of the described diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. Methods for producing anti-polypeptides and anti-polynucleotide antibodies polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are described in detail elsewhere herein. Such antibodies may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or as described herein.

[0700] A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the present invention may be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotides or polypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in the body or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated by complement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approaches are described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use the antibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring or therapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

[0701] In particular, the antibodies, fragments and derivatives of the present invention are useful for treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing a subject having or developing cell proliferative and/or differentiation diseases, disorders, and/or conditions as described herein. Such treatment comprises administering a single or multiple doses of the antibody, or a fragment, derivative, or a conjugate thereof.

[0702] The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilized in combination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or with lymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors, for example, which serve to increase the number or activity of effector cells which interact with the antibodies.

[0703] It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivo inhibiting and/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides or polynucleotides of the present invention, fragments or regions thereof, for both immunoassays directed to and therapy of diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to polynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragements thereof, of the present invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, will preferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragements thereof. Preferred binding affinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻⁶M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10⁻⁷M, 10⁻⁷M, 5×10⁻⁸M, 10⁻⁸M, 5×10⁻⁹M, 10⁻⁹M, 5×10⁻¹⁰M, 10⁻¹⁰M, 5×10⁻¹¹M, 10⁻¹¹M, 5×10⁻¹²M, 10⁻¹²M, 5×10⁻¹³M, 10⁻¹³M, 5×10⁻¹⁴M, 10⁻¹⁴M, 5×10⁻¹⁵M, and 10⁻¹⁵M.

[0704] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention are useful in inhibiting the angiogenesis of proliferative cells or tissues, either alone, as a protein fusion, or in combination with other polypeptides directly or indirectly, as described elsewhere herein. In a most preferred embodiment, said anti-angiogenesis effect may be achieved indirectly, for example, through the inhibition of hematopoietic, tumor-specific cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (See Joseph I B, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst, 90(21):1648-53 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference). Antibodies directed to polypeptides or polynucleotides of the present invention may also result in inhibition of angiogenesis directly, or indirectly (See Witte L, et al., Cancer Metastasis Rev. 17(2):155-61 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference)).

[0705] Polypeptides, including protein fusions, of the present invention, or fragments thereof may be useful in inhibiting proliferative cells or tissues through the induction of apoptosis. Said polypeptides may act either directly, or indirectly to induce apoptosis of proliferative cells and tissues, for example in the activation of a death-domain receptor, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1, CD95 (Fas/APO-1), TNF-receptor-related apoptosis-mediated protein (TRAMP) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-1 and -2 (See Schulze-Osthoff K, et.al., Eur J Biochem 254(3):439-59 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference). Moreover, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, said polypeptides may induce apoptosis through other mechanisms, such as in the activation of other proteins which will activate apoptosis, or through stimulating the expression of said proteins, either alone or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuviants, such as apoptonin, galectins, thioredoxins, antiinflammatory proteins (See for example, Mutat Res 400(1-2):447-55 (1998), Med Hypotheses.50(5):423-33 (1998), Chem Biol Interact. Apr 24;111-112:23-34 (1998), J Mol Med.76(6):402-12 (1998), Int J Tissue React;20(1):3-15 (1998), which are all hereby incorporated by reference).

[0706] Polypeptides, including protein fusions to, or fragments thereof, of the present invention are useful in inhibiting the metastasis of proliferative cells or tissues. Inhibition may occur as a direct result of administering polypeptides, or antibodies directed to said polypeptides as described elsewere herein, or indirectly, such as activating the expression of proteins known to inhibit metastasis, for example alpha 4 integrins, (See, e.g., Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 1998;231:12541, which is hereby incorporated by reference). Such thereapeutic affects of the present invention may be achieved either alone, or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuvants.

[0707] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of delivering compositions containing the polypeptides of the invention (e.g., compositions containing polypeptides or polypeptide antibodes associated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs) to targeted cells expressing the polypeptide of the present invention. Polypeptides or polypeptide antibodes of the invention may be associated with with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent interactions.

[0708] Polypeptides, protein fusions to, or fragments thereof, of the present invention are useful in enhancing the immunogenicity and/or antigenicity of proliferating cells or tissues, either directly, such as would occur if the polypeptides of the present invention ‘vaccinated’ the immune response to respond to proliferative antigens and immunogens, or indirectly, such as in activating the expression of proteins known to enhance the immune response (e.g. chemokines), to said antigens and immunogens.

[0709] Cardiovascular Disorders

[0710] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention may be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose cardiovascular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, including peripheral artery disease, such as limb ischemia.

[0711] Cardiovascular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions include cardiovascular abnormalities, such as arterio-arterial fistula, arteriovenous fistula, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, congenital heart defects, pulmonary atresia, and Scimitar Syndrome. Congenital heart defects include aortic coarctation, cor triatriatum, coronary vessel anomalies, crisscross heart, dextrocardia, patent ductus arteriosus, Ebstein's anomaly, Eisenmenger complex, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, levocardia, tetralogy of fallot, transposition of great vessels, double outlet right ventricle, tricuspid atresia, persistent truncus arteriosus, and heart septal defects, such as aortopulmonary septal defect, endocardial cushion defects, Lutembacher's Syndrome, trilogy of Fallot, ventricular heart septal defects.

[0712] Cardiovascular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions also include heart disease, such as arrhythmias, carcinoid heart disease, high cardiac output, low cardiac output, cardiac tamponade, endocarditis (including bacterial), heart aneurysm, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, congestive cardiomyopathy, paroxysmal dyspnea, cardiac edema, heart hypertrophy, congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, post-infarction heart rupture, ventricular septal rupture, heart valve diseases, myocardial diseases, myocardial ischemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis (including constrictive and tuberculous), pneumopericardium, postpericardiotomy syndrome, pulmonary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, ventricular dysfunction, hyperemia, cardiovascular pregnancy complications, Scimitar Syndrome, cardiovascular syphilis, and cardiovascular tuberculosis.

[0713] Arrhythmias include sinus arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, bradycardia, extrasystole, Adams-Stokes Syndrome, bundle-branch block, sinoatrial block, long QT syndrome, parasystole, Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome, Mahaim-type pre-excitation syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, tachycardias, and ventricular fibrillation. Tachycardias include paroxysmal tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, ectopic atrial tachycardia, ectopic junctional tachycardia, sinoatrial nodal reentry tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, Torsades de Pointes, and ventricular tachycardia.

[0714] Heart valve disease include aortic valve insufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, hear murmurs, aortic valve prolapse, mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse, mitral valve insufficiency, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary atresia, pulmonary valve insufficiency, pulmonary valve stenosis, tricuspid atresia, tricuspid valve insufficiency, and tricuspid valve stenosis.

[0715] Myocardial diseases include alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congestive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic subvalvular stenosis, pulmonary subvalvular stenosis, restrictive cardiomyopathy, Chagas cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis, endomyocardial fibrosis, Kearns Syndrome, myocardial reperfusion injury, and myocarditis.

[0716] Myocardial ischemias include coronary disease, such as angina pectoris, coronary aneurysm, coronary arteriosclerosis, coronary thrombosis, coronary vasospasm, myocardial infarction and myocardial stunning.

[0717] Cardiovascular diseases also include vascular diseases such as aneurysms, angiodysplasia, angiomatosis, bacillary angiomatosis, Hippel-Lindau Disease, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, angioneurotic edema, aortic diseases, Takayasu's Arteritis, aortitis, Leriche's Syndrome, arterial occlusive diseases, arteritis, enarteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, cerebrovascular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, diabetic angiopathies, diabetic retinopathy, embolisms, thrombosis, erythromelalgia, hemorrhoids, hepatic veno-occlusive disease, hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, peripheral vascular diseases, phlebitis, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, Raynaud's disease, CREST syndrome, retinal vein occlusion, Scimitar syndrome, superior vena cava syndrome, telangiectasia, atacia telangiectasia, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, varicocele, varicose veins, varicose ulcer, vasculitis, and venous insufficiency.

[0718] Aneurysms include dissecting aneurysms, false aneurysms, infected aneurysms, ruptured aneurysms, aortic aneurysms, cerebral aneurysms, coronary aneurysms, heart aneurysms, and iliac aneurysms.

[0719] Arterial occlusive diseases include arteriosclerosis, intermittent claudication, carotid stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasias, mesenteric vascular occlusion, Moyamoya disease, renal artery obstruction, retinal artery occlusion, and thromboangiitis obliterans.

[0720] Cerebrovascular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions include carotid artery diseases, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformation, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg's syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subaraxhnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia (including transient), subclavian steal syndrome, periventricular leukomalacia, vascular headache, cluster headache, migraine, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

[0721] Embolisms include air embolisms, amniotic fluid embolisms, cholesterol embolisms, blue toe syndrome, fat embolisms, pulmonary embolisms, and thromoboembolisms. Thrombosis include coronary thrombosis, hepatic vein thrombosis, retinal vein occlusion, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg's syndrome, and thrombophlebitis.

[0722] Ischemia includes cerebral ischemia, ischemic colitis, compartment syndromes, anterior compartment syndrome, myocardial ischemia, reperfusion injuries, and peripheral limb ischemia. Vasculitis includes aortitis, arteritis, Behcet's Syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, thromboangiitis obliterans, hypersensitivity vasculitis, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, allergic cutaneous vasculitis, and Wegener's granulomatosis.

[0723] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention, are especially effective for the treatment of critical limb ischemia and coronary disease.

[0724] Polypeptides may be administered using any method known in the art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the delivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps, oral or suppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting or topical applications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods are known in the art. Polypeptides of the invention may be administered as part of a Therapeutic, described in more detail below. Methods of delivering polynucleotides of the invention are described in more detail herein.

[0725] Anti-angiogenesis Activity

[0726] The naturally occurring balance between endogenous stimulators and inhibitors of angiogenesis is one in which inhibitory influences predominate. Rastinejad et al., Cell 56:345-355 (1989). In those rare instances in which neovascularization occurs under normal physiological conditions, such as wound healing, organ regeneration, embryonic development, and female reproductive processes, angiogenesis is stringently regulated and spatially and temporally delimited. Under conditions of pathological angiogenesis such as that characterizing solid tumor growth, these regulatory controls fail. Unregulated angiogenesis becomes pathologic and sustains progression of many neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. A number of serious diseases are dominated by abnormal neovascularization including solid tumor growth and metastases, arthritis, some types of eye diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, and psoriasis. See, e.g., reviews by Moses et al., Biotech. 9:630-634 (1991); Folkman et al., N. Engl. J. Med., 333:1757-1763 (1995); Auerbach et al., J. Microvasc. Res. 29:401-411 (1985); Folkman, Advances in Cancer Research, eds. Klein and Weinhouse, Academic Press, New York, pp. 175-203 (1985); Patz, Am. J. Opthalmol. 94:715-743 (1982); and Folkman et al., Science 221:719-725 (1983). In a number of pathological conditions, the process of angiogenesis contributes to the disease state. For example, significant data have accumulated which suggest that the growth of solid tumors is dependent on angiogenesis. Folkman and Klagsbrun, Science 235:442-447 (1987).

[0727] The present invention provides for treatment of diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with neovascularization by administration of the polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention, as well as agonists or antagonists of the present invention. Malignant and metastatic conditions which can be treated with the polynucleotides and polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention include, but are not limited to, malignancies, solid tumors, and cancers described herein and otherwise known in the art (for a review of such disorders, see Fishman et al., Medicine, 2d Ed., J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia (1985)).Thus, the present invention provides a method of treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing an angiogenesis-related disease and/or disorder, comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist of the invention. For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be utilized in a variety of additional methods in order to therapeutically treator prevent a cancer or tumor. Cancers which may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists include, but are not limited to solid tumors, including prostate, lung, breast, ovarian, stomach, pancreas, larynx, esophagus, testes, liver, parotid, biliary tract, colon, rectum, cervix, uterus, endometrium, kidney, bladder, thyroid cancer; primary tumors and metastases; melanomas; glioblastoma; Kaposi's sarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; non-small cell lung cancer; colorectal cancer; advanced malignancies; and blood born tumors such as leukemias. For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be delivered topically, in order to treat or prevent cancers such as skin cancer, head and neck tumors, breast tumors, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

[0728] Within yet other aspects, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be utilized to treat superficial forms of bladder cancer by, for example, intravesical administration. Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be delivered directly into the tumor, or near the tumor site, via injection or a catheter. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, the appropriate mode of administration will vary according to the cancer to be treated. Other modes of delivery are discussed herein.

[0729] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing other diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, besides cancers, which involve angiogenesis. These diseases, disorders, and/or conditions include, but are not limited to: benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artheroscleric plaques; ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, uvietis and Pterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) of the eye; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing; endometriosis; vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars (keloids); nonunion fractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascular adhesions; myocardial angiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebral collaterals; arteriovenous malformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis; Osler-Webber Syndrome; plaque neovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma; fibromuscular dysplasia; wound granulation; Crohn's disease; and atherosclerosis.

[0730] For example, within one aspect of the present invention methods are provided for treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing hypertrophic scars and keloids, comprising the step of administering a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist of the invention to a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

[0731] Within one embodiment of the present invention polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists are directly injected into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, in order to prevent the progression of these lesions. This therapy is of particular value in the prophylactic treatment of conditions which are known to result in the development of hypertrophic scars and keloids (e.g., burns), and is preferably initiated after the proliferative phase has had time to progress (approximately 14 days after the initial injury), but before hypertrophic scar or keloid development. As noted above, the present invention also provides methods for treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing neovascular diseases of the eye, including for example, corneal neovascularization, neovascular glaucoma, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasia and macular degeneration.

[0732] Moreover, Ocular diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with neovascularization which can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention (including agonists and/or antagonists) include, but are not limited to: neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinoblastoma, retrolental fibroplasia, uveitis, retinopathy of prematurity macular degeneration, corneal graft neovascularization, as well as other eye inflammatory diseases, ocular tumors and diseases associated with choroidal or iris neovascularization. See, e.g., reviews by Waltman et al., Am. J. Ophthal. 85:704-710 (1978) and Gartner et al., Surv. Ophthal. 22:291-312 (1978).

[0733] Thus, within one aspect of the present invention methods are provided for treating or preventing neovascular diseases of the eye such as corneal neovascularization (including corneal graft neovascularization), comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound (as described above) to the cornea, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. Briefly, the cornea is a tissue which normally lacks blood vessels. In certain pathological conditions however, capillaries may extend into the cornea from the pericorneal vascular plexus of the limbus. When the cornea becomes vascularized, it also becomes clouded, resulting in a decline in the patient's visual acuity. Visual loss may become complete if the cornea completely opacitates. A wide variety of diseases, disorders, and/or conditions can result in corneal neovascularization, including for example, corneal infections (e.g., trachoma, herpes simplex keratitis, leishmaniasis and onchocerciasis), immunological processes (e.g., graft rejection and Stevens-Johnson's syndrome), alkali burns, trauma, inflammation (of any cause), toxic and nutritional deficiency states, and as a complication of wearing contact lenses.

[0734] Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, may be prepared for topical administration in saline (combined with any of the preservatives and antimicrobial agents commonly used in ocular preparations), and administered in eyedrop form. The solution or suspension may be prepared in its pure form and administered several times daily. Alternatively, anti-angiogenic compositions, prepared as described above, may also be administered directly to the cornea. Within preferred embodiments, the anti-angiogenic composition is prepared with a muco-adhesive polymer which binds to cornea. Within further embodiments, the anti-angiogenic factors or anti-angiogenic compositions may be utilized as an adjunct to conventional steroid therapy. Topical therapy may also be useful prophylactically in corneal lesions which are known to have a high probability of inducing an angiogenic response (such as chemical burns). In these instances the treatment, likely in combination with steroids, may be instituted immediately to help prevent subsequent complications.

[0735] Within other embodiments, the compounds described above may be injected directly into the corneal stroma by an ophthalmologist under microscopic guidance. The preferred site of injection may vary with the morphology of the individual lesion, but the goal of the administration would be to place the composition at the advancing front of the vasculature (i.e., interspersed between the blood vessels and the normal cornea). In most cases this would involve perilimbic corneal injection to “protect” the cornea from the advancing blood vessels. This method may also be utilized shortly after a corneal insult in order to prophylactically prevent corneal neovascularization. In this situation the material could be injected in the perilimbic cornea interspersed between the corneal lesion and its undesired potential limbic blood supply. Such methods may also be utilized in a similar fashion to prevent capillary invasion of transplanted corneas. In a sustained-release form injections might only be required 2-3 times per year. A steroid could also be added to the injection solution to reduce inflammation resulting from the injection itself.

[0736] Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating or preventing neovascular glaucoma, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. In one embodiment, the compound may be administered topically to the eye in order to treat or prevent early forms of neovascular glaucoma. Within other embodiments, the compound may be implanted by injection into the region of the anterior chamber angle. Within other embodiments, the compound may also be placed in any location such that the compound is continuously released into the aqueous humor. Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating or preventing proliferative diabetic retinopathy, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eyes, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited.

[0737] Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, proliferative diabetic retinopathy may be treated by injection into the aqueous humor or the vitreous, in order to increase the local concentration of the polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist in the retina. Preferably, this treatment should be initiated prior to the acquisition of severe disease requiring photocoagulation.

[0738] Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided for treating or preventing retrolental fibroplasia, comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. The compound may be administered topically, via intravitreous injection and/or via intraocular implants.

[0739] Additionally, diseases, disorders, and/or conditions which can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists include, but are not limited to, hemangioma, arthritis, psoriasis, angiofibroma, atherosclerotic plaques, delayed wound healing, granulations, hemophilic joints, hypertrophic scars, nonunion fractures, Osler-Weber syndrome, pyogenic granuloma, scieroderma, trachoma, and vascular adhesions.

[0740] Moreover, diseases, disorders, and/or conditions and/or states, which can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the the polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists include, but are not limited to, solid tumors, blood born tumors such as leukemias, tumor metastasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ocular argiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, and uvietis, delayed wound healing, endometriosis, vascluogenesis, granulations, hypertrophic scars (keloids), nonunion fractures, scleroderma, trachoma, vascular adhesions, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary collaterals, cerebral collaterals, arteriovenous malformations, ischemic limb angiogenesis, Osler-Webber Syndrome, plaque neovascularization, telangiectasia, hemophiliac joints, angiofibroma fibromuscular dysplasia, wound granulation, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, birth control agent by preventing vascularization required for embryo implantation controlling menstruation, diseases that have angiogenesis as a pathologic consequence such as cat scratch disease (Rochele minalia quintosa), ulcers (Helicobacter pylori), Bartonellosis and bacillary angiomatosis.

[0741] In one aspect of the birth control method, an amount of the compound sufficient to block embryo implantation is administered before or after intercourse and fertilization have occurred, thus providing an effective method of birth control, possibly a “morning after” method. Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may also be used in controlling menstruation or administered as either a peritoneal lavage fluid or for peritoneal implantation in the treatment of endometriosis.

[0742] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of the present invention may be incorporated into surgical sutures in order to prevent stitch granulomas.

[0743] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may be utilized in a wide variety of surgical procedures. For example, within one aspect of the present invention a compositions (in the form of, for example, a spray or film) may be utilized to coat or spray an area prior to removal of a tumor, in order to isolate normal surrounding tissues from malignant tissue, and/or to prevent the spread of disease to surrounding tissues. Within other aspects of the present invention, compositions (e.g., in the form of a spray) may be delivered via endoscopic procedures in order to coat tumors, or inhibit angiogenesis in a desired locale. Within yet other aspects of the present invention, surgical meshes which have been coated with anti-angiogenic compositions of the present invention may be utilized in any procedure wherein a surgical mesh might be utilized. For example, within one embodiment of the invention a surgical mesh laden with an anti-angiogenic composition may be utilized during abdominal cancer resection surgery (e.g., subsequent to colon resection) in order to provide support to the structure, and to release an amount of the anti-angiogenic factor.

[0744] Within further aspects of the present invention, methods are provided for treating tumor excision sites, comprising administering a polynucleotide, polypeptide, agonist and/or agonist to the resection margins of a tumor subsequent to excision, such that the local recurrence of cancer and the formation of new blood vessels at the site is inhibited. Within one embodiment of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compound is administered directly to the tumor excision site (e.g., applied by swabbing, brushing or otherwise coating the resection margins of the tumor with the anti-angiogenic compound). Alternatively, the anti-angiogenic compounds may be incorporated into known surgical pastes prior to administration. Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compounds are applied after hepatic resections for malignancy, and after neurosurgical operations.

[0745] Within one aspect of the present invention, polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may be administered to the resection margin of a wide variety of tumors, including for example, breast, colon, brain and hepatic tumors. For example, within one embodiment of the invention, anti-angiogenic compounds may be administered to the site of a neurological tumor subsequent to excision, such that the formation of new blood vessels at the site are inhibited.

[0746] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of the present invention may also be administered along with other anti-angiogenic factors. Representative examples of other anti-angiogenic factors include: Anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid and derivatives thereof, paclitaxel, Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2, and various forms of the lighter “d group” transition metals.

[0747] Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species. Such transition metal species may form transition metal complexes. Suitable complexes of the above-mentioned transition metal species include oxo transition metal complexes.

[0748] Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxo vanadium complexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitable vanadate complexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes such as, for example, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodium orthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadyl acetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydrates such as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

[0749] Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes also include oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstate and tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes include ammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, and tungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide and tungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes include molybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitable molybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodium molybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates. Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum (VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include, for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten and molybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, for example, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

[0750] A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also be utilized within the context of the present invention. Representative examples include platelet factor 4; protamine sulphate; sulphated chitin derivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murata et al., Cancer Res. 51:22-26, 1991); Sulphated Polysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex (SP-PG) (the function of this compound may be enhanced by the presence of steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine; modulators of matrix metabolism, including for example, proline analogs, cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4dehydroproline, Thiaproline, alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate; 4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone; Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J. Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, 1992); Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al., Biochem J. 286:475-480, 1992); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate; Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557, 1990); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin. Invest. 79:1440-1446, 1987); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin (Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664, 1987); Bisantrene (National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium (N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”; Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, 1992); Thalidomide; Angostatic steroid; AGM-1470; carboxynaminolmidazole; and metalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

[0751] Diseases at the Cellular Level

[0752] Diseases associated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis that could be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by the polynucleotides or polypeptides and/or antagonists or agonists of the invention, include cancers (such as follicular lymphomas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors, including, but not limited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, retinoblastoma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma, endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses and adenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection. In preferred embodiments, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression, and/or metasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

[0753] Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cell survival that could be treated, prevented or diagnosed by the polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include, but are not limited to, progression, and/or metastases of malignancies and related disorders such as leukemia (including acute leukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia (including myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, and erythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias (e.g., chronic myelocytic (granulocytic) leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's disease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors including, but not limited to, sarcomas and carcinomas such as fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma.

[0754] Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include AIDS; neurodegenerative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Retinitis pigmentosa, Cerebellar degeneration and brain tumor or prior associated disease); autoimmune diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes (such as aplastic anemia), graft v. host disease, ischemic injury (such as that caused by myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury), liver injury (e.g., hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cholestosis (bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-induced liver disease (such as that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexia and anorexia.

[0755] Wound Healing and Epithelial Cell Proliferation

[0756] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for utilizing the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate epithelial cell proliferation and basal keratinocytes for the purpose of wound healing, and to stimulate hair follicle production and healing of dermal wounds. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the invention, may be clinically useful in stimulating wound healing including surgical wounds, excisional wounds, deep wounds involving damage of the dermis and epidermis, eye tissue wounds, dental tissue wounds, oral cavity wounds, diabetic ulcers, dermal ulcers, cubitus ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, burns resulting from heat exposure or chemicals, and other abnormal wound healing conditions such as uremia, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies and complications associted with systemic treatment with steroids, radiation therapy and antineoplastic drugs and antimetabolites. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to promote dermal reestablishment subsequent to dermal loss.

[0757] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to increase the adherence of skin grafts to a wound bed and to stimulate re-epithelialization from the wound bed. The following are a non-exhaustive list of grafts that polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to increase adherence to a wound bed: autografts, artificial skin, allografts, autodermic graft, autoepdermic grafts, avacular grafts, Blair-Brown grafts, bone graft, brephoplastic grafts, cutis graft, delayed graft, dermic graft, epidermic graft, fascia graft, full thickness graft, heterologous graft, xenograft, homologous graft, hyperplastic graft, lamellar graft, mesh graft, mucosal graft, Ollier-Thiersch graft, omenpal graft, patch graft, pedicle graft, penetrating graft, split skin graft, thick split graft. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, can be used to promote skin strength and to improve the appearance of aged skin.

[0758] It is believed that the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, will also produce changes in hepatocyte proliferation, and epithelial cell proliferation in the lung, breast, pancreas, stomach, small intesting, and large intestine. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could promote proliferation of epithelial cells such as sebocytes, hair follicles, hepatocytes, type II pneumocytes, mucin-producing goblet cells, and other epithelial cells and their progenitors contained within the skin, lung, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, may promote proliferation of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and basal keratinocytes.

[0759] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could also be used to reduce the side effects of gut toxicity that result from radiation, chemotherapy treatments or viral infections. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, may have a cytoprotective effect on the small intestine mucosa. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, may also stimulate healing of mucositis (mouth ulcers) that result from chemotherapy and viral infections.

[0760] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could further be used in full regeneration of skin in full and partial thickness skin defects, including burns, (i.e., repopulation of hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands), treatment of other skin defects such as psoriasis. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to treat epidermolysis bullosa, a defect in adherence of the epidermis to the underlying dermis which results in frequent, open and painful blisters by accelerating reepithelialization of these lesions. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could also be used to treat gastric and doudenal ulcers and help heal by scar formation of the mucosal lining and regeneration of glandular mucosa and duodenal mucosal lining more rapidly. Inflamamatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are diseases which result in destruction of the mucosal surface of the small or large intestine, respectively. Thus, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to promote the resurfacing of the mucosal surface to aid more rapid healing and to prevent progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment with the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, is expected to have a significant effect on the production of mucus throughout the gastrointestinal tract and could be used to protect the intestinal mucosa from injurious substances that are ingested or following surgery. The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to treat diseases associate with the under expression of the polynucleotides of the invention.

[0761] Moreover, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to prevent and heal damage to the lungs due to various pathological states. A growth factor such as the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, which could stimulate proliferation and differentiation and promote the repair of alveoli and brochiolar epithelium to prevent or treat acute or chronic lung damage. For example, emphysema, which results in the progressive loss of aveoli, and inhalation injuries, i.e., resulting from smoke inhalation and burns, that cause necrosis of the bronchiolar epithelium and alveoli could be effectively treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention. Also, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to stimulate the proliferation of and differentiation of type II pneumocytes, which may help treat or prevent disease such as hyaline membrane diseases, such as infant respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary displasia, in premature infants.

[0762] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of hepatocytes and, thus, could be used to alleviate or treat liver diseases and pathologies such as fulminant liver failure caused by cirrhosis, liver damage caused by viral hepatitis and toxic substances (i.e., acetaminophen, carbon tetraholoride and other hepatotoxins known in the art).

[0763] In addition, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used treat or prevent the onset of diabetes mellitus. In patients with newly diagnosed Types I and II diabetes, where some islet cell function remains, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used to maintain the islet function so as to alleviate, delay or prevent permanent manifestation of the disease. Also, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, could be used as an auxiliary in islet cell transplantation to improve or promote islet cell function.

[0764] Neurological Diseases

[0765] Nervous system diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, which can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the compositions of the invention (e.g., polypeptides, polynucleotides, and/or agonists or antagonists), include, but are not limited to, nervous system injuries, and diseases, disorders, and/or conditions which result in either a disconnection of axons, a diminution or degeneration of neurons, or demyelination. Nervous system lesions which may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed in a patient (including human and non-human mammalian patients) according to the invention, include but are not limited to, the following lesions of either the central (including spinal cord, brain) or peripheral nervous systems: (1) ischemic lesions, in which a lack of oxygen in a portion of the nervous system results in neuronal injury or death, including cerebral infarction or ischemia, or spinal cord infarction or ischemia; (2) traumatic lesions, including lesions caused by physical injury or associated with surgery, for example, lesions which sever a portion of the nervous system, or compression injuries; (3) malignant lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by malignant tissue which is either a nervous system associated malignancy or a malignancy derived from non-nervous system tissue; (4) infectious lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured as a result of infection, for example, by an abscess or associated with infection by human immunodeficiency virus, herpes zoster, or herpes simplex virus or with Lyme disease, tuberculosis, syphilis; (5) degenerative lesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured as a result of a degenerative process including but not limited to degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); (6) lesions associated with nutritional diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by a nutritional disorder or disorder of metabolism including but not limited to, vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, Wernicke disease, tobacco-alcohol amblyopia, Marchiafava-Bignami disease (primary degeneration of the corpus callosum), and alcoholic cerebellar degeneration; (7) neurological lesions associated with systemic diseases including, but not limited to, diabetes (diabetic neuropathy, Bell's palsy), systemic lupus erythematosus, carcinoma, or sarcoidosis; (8) lesions caused by toxic substances including alcohol, lead, or particular neurotoxins; and (9) demyelinated lesions in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured by a demyelinating disease including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus-associated myelopathy, transverse myelopathy or various etiologies, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and central pontine myelinolysis.

[0766] In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to protect neural cells from the damaging effects of cerebral hypoxia. According to this embodiment, the compositions of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose neural cell injury associated with cerebral hypoxia. In one aspect of this embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose neural cell injury associated with cerebral ischemia. In another aspect of this embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose neural cell injury associated with cerebral infarction. In another aspect of this embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose or prevent neural cell injury associated with a stroke. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose neural cell injury associated with a heart attack.

[0767] The compositions of the invention which are useful for treating or preventing a nervous system disorder may be selected by testing for biological activity in promoting the survival or differentiation of neurons. For example, and not by way of limitation, compositions of the invention which elicit any of the following effects may be useful according to the invention: (1) increased survival time of neurons in culture; (2) increased sprouting of neurons in culture or in vivo; (3) increased production of a neuron-associated molecule in culture or in vivo, e.g., choline acetyltransferase or acetylcholinesterase with respect to motor neurons; or (4) decreased symptoms of neuron dysfunction in vivo. Such effects may be measured by any method known in the art. In preferred, non-limiting embodiments, increased survival of neurons may routinely be measured using a method set forth herein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, the method set forth in Arakawa et al. (J. Neurosci. 10:3507-3515 (1990)); increased sprouting of neurons may be detected by methods known in the art, such as, for example, the methods set forth in Pestronk et al. (Exp. Neurol. 70:65-82 (1980)) or Brown et al. (Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 4:17-42 (1981)); increased production of neuron-associated molecules may be measured by bioassay, enzymatic assay, antibody binding, Northern blot assay, etc., using techniques known in the art and depending on the molecule to be measured; and motor neuron dysfunction may be measured by assessing the physical manifestation of motor neuron disorder, e.g., weakness, motor neuron conduction velocity, or functional disability.

[0768] In specific embodiments, motor neuron diseases, disorders, and/or conditions that may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed according to the invention include, but are not limited to, diseases, disorders, and/or conditions such as infarction, infection, exposure to toxin, trauma, surgical damage, degenerative disease or malignancy that may affect motor neurons as well as other components of the nervous system, as well as diseases, disorders, and/or conditions that selectively affect neurons such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and including, but not limited to, progressive spinal muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, infantile and juvenile muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar paralysis of childhood (Fazio-Londe syndrome), poliomyelitis and the post polio syndrome, and Hereditary Motorsensory Neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease).

[0769] Infectious Disease

[0770] A polypeptide or polynucleotide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose infectious agents. For example, by increasing the immune response, particularly increasing the proliferation and differentiation of B and/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed. The immune response may be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immune response. Alternatively, polypeptide or polynucleotide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention may also directly inhibit the infectious agent, without necessarily eliciting an immune response.

[0771] Viruses are one example of an infectious agent that can cause disease or symptoms that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention. Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to the following DNA and RNA viruses and viral families: Arbovirus, Adenoviridae, Arenaviridae, Arterivirus, Birnaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Caliciviridae, Circoviridae, Coronaviridae, Dengue, EBV, HIV, Fla,viviridae, Hepadnaviridae (Hepatitis), Herpesviridae (such as, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex, Herpes Zoster), Mononegavirus (e.g., Paramyxoviridae, Morbillivirus, Rhabdoviridae), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., Influenza A, Influenza B, and parainfluenza), Papiloma virus, Papovaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Poxviridae (such as Smallpox or Vaccinia), Reoviridae (e.g., Rotavirus), Retroviridae (HTLV-I, HTLV-II, Lentivirus), and Togaviridae (e.g., Rubivirus). Viruses falling within these families can cause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: arthritis, bronchiollitis, respiratory syncytial virus, encephalitis, eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis, keratitis), chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis (A, B, C, E, Chronic Active, Delta), Japanese B encephalitis, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, meningitis, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS), pneumonia, Burkitt's Lymphoma, chickenpox, hemorrhagic fever, Measles, Mumps, Parainfluenza, Rabies, the common cold, Polio, leukemia, Rubella, sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases (e.g., Kaposi's, warts), and viremia. polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention, can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose: meningitis, Dengue, EBV, and/or hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In an additional specific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat patients nonresponsive to one or more other commercially available hepatitis vaccines. In a further specific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose AIDS.

[0772] Similarly, bacterial or fungal agents that can cause disease or symptoms and that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention include, but not limited to, include, but not limited to, the following Gram-Negative and Gram-positive bacteria and bacterial families and fungi: Actinomycetales (e.g., Corynebacterium, Mycobacterium, Norcardia), Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillosis, Bacillaceae (e.g., Anthrax, Clostridium), Bacteroidaceae, Blastomycosis, Bordetella, Borrelia (e.g., Borrelia burgdorferi), Brucellosis, Candidiasis, Campylobacter, Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Dermatocycoses, E. coli (e.g., Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Enterohemorrhagic E. coli), Enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella, Salmonella (e.g., Salmonella typhi, and Salmonella paratyphi), Serratia, Yersinia), Erysipelothrix, Helicobacter, Legionellosis, Leptospirosis, Listeria, Mycoplasmatales, Mycobacterium leprae, Vibrio cholerae, Neisseriaceae (e.g., Acinetobacter, Gonorrhea, Menigococcal), Meisseria meningitidis, Pasteurellacea Infections (e.g., Actinobacillus, Heamophilus (e.g., Heamophilus influenza type B), Pasteurella), Pseudomonas, Rickettsiaceae, Chlamydiaceae, Syphilis, Shigella spp., Staphylococcal, Meningiococcal, Pneumococcal and Streptococcal (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Group B Streptococcus). These bacterial or fungal families can cause the following diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: bacteremia, endocarditis, eye infections (conjunctivitis, tuberculosis, uveitis), gingivitis, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS related infections), paronychia, prosthesis-related infections, Reiter's Disease, respiratory tract infections, such as Whooping Cough or Empyema, sepsis, Lyme Disease, Cat-Scratch Disease, Dysentery, Paratyphoid Fever, food poisoning, Typhoid, pneumonia, Gonorrhea, meningitis (e.g., mengitis types A and B), Chlamydia, Syphilis, Diphtheria, Leprosy, Paratuberculosis, Tuberculosis, Lupus, Botulism, gangrene, tetanus, impetigo, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, sexually transmitted diseases, skin diseases (e.g., cellulitis, dermatocycoses), toxemia, urinary tract infections, wound infections. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the invention, can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose: tetanus, Diptheria, botulism, and/or meningitis type B.

[0773] Moreover, parasitic agents causing disease or symptoms that can be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention include, but not limited to, the following families or class: Amebiasis, Babesiosis, Coccidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Dientamoebiasis, Dourine, Ectoparasitic, Giardiasis, Helminthiasis, Leishmaniasis, Theileriasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, and Trichomonas and Sporozoans (e.g., Plasmodium virax, Plasmodium falciparium, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale). These parasites can cause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: Scabies, Trombiculiasis, eye infections, intestinal disease (e.g., dysentery, giardiasis), liver disease, lung disease, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS related), malaria, pregnancy complications, and toxoplasmosis. polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention, can be used totreat, prevent, and/or diagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose malaria.

[0774] Preferably, treatment or prevention using a polypeptide or polynucleotide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention could either be by administering an effective amount of a polypeptide to the patient, or by removing cells from the patient, supplying the cells with a polynucleotide of the present invention, and returning the engineered cells to the patient (ex vivo therapy). Moreover, the polypeptide or polynucleotide of the present invention can be used as an antigen in a vaccine to raise an immune response against infectious disease.

[0775] Regeneration

[0776] A polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention can be used to differentiate, proliferate, and attract cells, leading to the regeneration of tissues. (See, Science 276:59-87 (1997).) The regeneration of tissues could be used to repair, replace, or protect tissue damaged by congenital defects, trauma (wounds, burns, incisions, or ulcers), age, disease (e.g. osteoporosis, osteocarthritis, periodontal disease, liver failure), surgery, including cosmetic plastic surgery, fibrosis, reperfusion injury, or systemic cytokine damage.

[0777] Tissues that could be regenerated using the present invention include organs (e.g., pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium), muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac), vasculature (including vascular and lymphatics), nervous, hematopoietic, and skeletal (bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament) tissue. Preferably, regeneration occurs without or decreased scarring. Regeneration also may include angiogenesis.

[0778] Moreover, a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention may increase regeneration of tissues difficult to heal. For example, increased tendon/ligament regeneration would quicken recovery time after damage. A polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention could also be used prophylactically in an effort to avoid damage. Specific diseases that could be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed include of tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other tendon or ligament defects. A further example of tissue regeneration of non-healing wounds includes pressure ulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical, and traumatic wounds.

[0779] Similarly, nerve and brain tissue could also be regenerated by using a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagbnist of the present invention to proliferate and differentiate nerve cells. Diseases that could be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using this method include central and peripheral nervous system diseases, neuropathies, or mechanical and traumatic diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., spinal cord disorders, head trauma, cerebrovascular disease, and stoke). Specifically, diseases associated with peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy (e.g., resulting from chemotherapy or other medical therapies), localized neuropathies, and central nervous system diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome), could all be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using the polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention.

[0780] Chemotaxis

[0781] A polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention may have chemotaxis activity. A chemotaxic molecule attracts or mobilizes cells (e.g., monocytes, fibroblasts, neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils, epithelial and/or endothelial cells) to a particular site in the body, such as inflammation, infection, or site of hyperproliferation. The mobilized cells can then fight off and/or heal the particular trauma or abnormality.

[0782] A polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention may increase chemotaxic activity of particular cells. These chemotactic molecules can then be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose inflammation, infection, hyperproliferative diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, or any immune system disorder by increasing the number of cells targeted to a particular location in the body. For example, chemotaxic molecules can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose wounds and other trauma to tissues by attracting immune cells to the injured location. Chemotactic molecules of the present invention can also attract fibroblasts, which can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose wounds.

[0783] It is also contemplated that a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention may inhibit chemotactic activity. These molecules could also be used totreat, prevent, and/or diagnose diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. Thus, a polynucleotide or polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention could be used as an inhibitor of chemotaxis.

[0784] Binding Activity

[0785] A polypeptide of the present invention may be used to screen for molecules that bind to the polypeptide or for molecules to which the polypeptide binds. The binding of the polypeptide and the molecule may activate (agonist), increase, inhibit (antagonist), or decrease activity of the polypeptide or the molecule bound. Examples of such molecules include antibodies, oligonucleotides, proteins (e.g., receptors),or small molecules.

[0786] Preferably, the molecule is closely related to the natural ligand of the polypeptide, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or a natural substrate, a ligand, a structural or functional mimetic. (See, Coligan et al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991).) Similarly, the molecule can be closely related to the natural receptor to which the polypeptide binds, or at least, a fragment of the receptor capable of being bound by the polypeptide (e.g., active site). In either case, the molecule can be rationally designed using known techniques.

[0787] Preferably, the screening for these molecules involves producing appropriate cells which express the polypeptide, either as a secreted protein or on the cell membrane. Preferred cells include cells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila, or E. coli. Cells expressing the polypeptide (or cell membrane cbntaining the expressed polypeptide) are then preferably contacted with a test compound potentially containing the molecule to observe binding, stimulation, or inhibition of activity of either the polypeptide or the molecule.

[0788] The assay may simply test binding of a candidate compound to the polypeptide, wherein binding is detected by a label, or in an assay involving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, the assay may test whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated by binding to the polypeptide.

[0789] Alternatively, the assay can be carried out using cell-free preparations, polypeptide/molecule affixed to a solid support, chemical libraries, or natural product mixtures. The assay may also simply comprise the steps of mixing a candidate compound with a solution containing a polypeptide, measuring polypeptide/molecule activity or binding, and comparing the polypeptide/molecule activity or binding to a standard.

[0790] Preferably, an ELISA assay can measure polypeptide level or activity in a sample (e.g., biological sample) using a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody. The antibody can measure polypeptide level or activity by either binding, directly or indirectly, to the polypeptide or by competing with the polypeptide for a substrate.

[0791] Additionally, the receptor to which a polypeptide of the invention binds can be identified by numerous methods known to those of skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting (Coligan, et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2), Chapter 5, (1991)). For example, expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNA is prepared from a cell responsive to the polypeptides, for example, NIH3T3 cells which are known to contain multiple receptors for the FGF family proteins, and SC-3 cells, and a cDNA library created from this RNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cells that are not responsive to the polypeptides. Transfected cells which are grown on glass slides are exposed to the polypeptide of the present invention, after they have been labelled. The polypeptides can be labeled by a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognition site for a site-specific protein kinase.

[0792] Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected to auto-radiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-pools are prepared and re-transfected using an iterative sub-pooling and re-screening process, eventually yielding a single clones that encodes the putative receptor.

[0793] As an alternative approach for receptor identification, the labeled polypeptides can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane or extract preparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked material is resolved by PAGE analysis and exposed to X-ray film. The labeled complex containing the receptors of the polypeptides can be excised, resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to protein microsequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencing would be used to design a set of degenerate oligonucleotide probes to screen a cDNA library to identify the genes encoding the putative receptors.

[0794] Moreover, the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”) may be employed to modulate the activities of polypeptides of the invention thereby effectively generating agonists and antagonists of polypeptides of the invention. See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793, 5,811,238, 5,830,721, 5,834,252, and 5,837,458, and Patten, P. A., et al., Curr. Opinion Biotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, S. Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82 (1998); Hansson, L. O., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); and Lorenzo, M. M. and Blasco, R. Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998) (each of these patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference). In one embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides of the invention may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involves the assembly of two or more DNA segments into a desired polynucleotide sequence of the invention molecule by homologous, or site-specific, recombination. In another embodiment, polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides of the invention may be alterred by being subjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior to recombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of the polypeptides of the invention may be recombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules. In preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecules are family members. In further preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecule is a growth factor such as, for example, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), TGF-beta, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7, activins A and B, decapentaplegic(dpp), 60A, OP-2, dorsalin, growth differentiation factors (GDFs), nodal, MIS, inhibin-alpha, TGF-betal, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-beta5, and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

[0795] Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments of the polypeptides of the invention. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of the polypeptide. The biological activity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable activity.

[0796] Additionally, this invention provides a method of screening compounds to identify those which modulate the action of the polypeptide of the present invention. An example of such an assay comprises combining a mammalian fibroblast cell, a the polypeptide of the present invention, the compound to be screened and 3[H] thymidine under cell culture conditions where the fibroblast cell would normally proliferate. A control assay may be performed in the absence of the compound to be screened and compared to the amount of fibroblast proliferation in the presence of the compound to determine if the compound stimulates proliferation by determining the uptake of 3[H] thymidine in each case. The amount of fibroblast cell proliferation is measured by liquid scintillation chromatography which measures the incorporation of 3[H] thymidine. Both agonist and antagonist compounds may be identified by this procedure.

[0797] In another method, a mammalian cell or membrane preparation expressing a receptor for a polypeptide of the present invention is incubated with a labeled polypeptide of the present invention in the presence of the compound. The ability of the compound to enhance or block this interaction could then be measured. Alternatively, the response of a known second messenger system following interaction of a compound to be screened and the receptor is measured and the ability of the compound to bind to the receptor and elicit a second messenger response is measured to determine if the compound is a potential agonist or antagonist. Such second messenger systems include but are not limited to, cAMP guanylate cyclase, ion channels or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

[0798] All of these above assays can be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers. The molecules discovered using these assays can be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose disease or to bring about a particular result in a patient (e.g., blood vessel growth) by activating or inhibiting the polypeptide/molecule. Moreover, the assays can discover agents which may inhibit or enhance the production of the polypeptides of the invention from suitably manipulated cells or tissues. Therefore, the invention includes a method of identifying compounds which bind to the polypeptides of the invention comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidate binding compound with the polypeptide; and (b) determining if binding has occurred. Moreover, the invention includes a method of identifying agonists/antagonists comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidate compound with the polypeptide, (b) assaying a biological activity, and (b) determining if a biological activity of the polypeptide has been altered.

[0799] Also, one could identify molecules bind a polypeptide of the invention experimentally by using the beta-pleated sheet regions contained in the polypeptide sequence of the protein. Accordingly, specific embodiments of the invention are directed to polynucleotides encoding polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, the amino acid sequence of each beta pleated sheet regions in a disclosed polypeptide sequence. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to polynucleotides encoding polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, any combination or all of contained in the polypeptide sequences of the invention. Additional preferred embodiments of the invention are directed to polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, the amino acid sequence of each of the beta pleated sheet regions in one of the polypeptide sequences of the invention. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to polypeptides which comprise, or alternatively consist of, any combination or all of the beta pleated sheet regions in one of the polypeptide sequences of the invention.

[0800] Targeted Delivery

[0801] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of delivering compositions to targeted cells expressing a receptor for a polypeptide of the invention, or cells expressing a cell bound form of a polypeptide of the invention.

[0802] As discussed herein, polypeptides or antibodies of the invention may be associated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent interactions. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific delivery of compositions of the invention to cells by administering polypeptides of the invention (including antibodies) that are associated with heterologous polypeptides or nucleic acids. In one example, the invention provides a method for delivering a therapeutic protein into the targeted cell. In another example, the invention provides a method for delivering a single stranded nucleic acid (e.g., antisense or ribozymes) or double stranded nucleic acid (e.g., DNA that can integrate into the cell's genome or replicate episomally and that can be transcribed) into the targeted cell.

[0803] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) by administering polypeptides of the invention (e.g., polypeptides of the invention or antibodies of the invention) in association with toxins or cytotoxic prodrugs.

[0804] By “toxin” is meant compounds that bind and activate endogenous cytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins, modified toxins, catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules or enzymes not normally present in or on the surface of a cell that under defined conditions cause the cell's death. Toxins that may be used according to the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes known in the art, compounds such as, for example, antibodies (or complement fixing containing portions thereof) that bind an inherent or induced endogenous cytotoxic effector system, thymidine kinase, endonuclease, RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheria toxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweed antiviral protein, alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. By “cytotoxic prodrug” is meant a non-toxic compound that is converted by an enzyme, normally present in the cell, into a cytotoxic compound. Cytotoxic prodrugs that may be used according to the methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, glutamyl derivatives of benzoic acid mustard alkylating agent, phosphate derivatives of etoposide or mitomycin C, cytosine arabinoside, daunorubisin, and phenoxyacetamide derivatives of doxorubicin.

[0805] Drug Screening

[0806] Further contemplated is the use of the polypeptides of the present invention, or the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, to screen for molecules which modify the activities of the polypeptides of the present invention. Such a method would include contacting the polypeptide of the present invention with a selected compound(s) suspected of having antagonist or agonist activity, and assaying the activity of these polypeptides following binding.

[0807] This invention is particularly useful for screening therapeutic compounds by using the polypeptides of the present invention, or binding fragments thereof, in any of a variety of drug screening techniques. The polypeptide or fragment employed in such a test may be affixed to a solid support, expressed on a cell surface, free in solution, or located intracellularly. One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic or prokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinant nucleic acids expressing the polypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screened against such transformed cells in competitive binding assays. One may measure, for example, the formulation of complexes between the agent being tested and a polypeptide of the present invention.

[0808] Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs or any other agents which affect activities mediated by the polypeptides of the present invention. These methods comprise contacting such an agent with a polypeptide of the present invention or a fragment thereof and assaying for the presence of a complex between the agent and the polypeptide or a fragment thereof, by methods well known in the art. In such a competitive binding assay, the agents to screen are typically labeled. Following incubation, free agent is separated from that present in bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measure of the ability of a particular agent to bind to the polypeptides of the present invention.

[0809] Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screening for compounds having suitable binding affinity to the polypeptides of the present invention, and is described in great detail in European Patent Application 84103564, published on Sep. 13, 1984, which is incorporated herein by reference herein. Briefly stated, large numbers of different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on a solid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The peptide test compounds are reacted with polypeptides of the present invention and washed. Bound polypeptides are then detected by methods well known in the art. Purified polypeptides are coated directly onto plates for use in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition, non-neutralizing antibodies may be used to capture the peptide and immobilize it on the solid support.

[0810] This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding polypeptides of the present invention specifically compete with a test compound for binding to the polypeptides or fragments thereof. In this manner, the antibodies are used to detect the presence of any peptide which shares one or more antigenic epitopes with a polypeptide of the invention.

[0811] Antisense and Ribozyme (Antagonists)

[0812] In specific embodiments, antagonists according to the present invention are nucleic acids corresponding to the sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X, or the complementary strand thereof, and/or to nucleotide sequences contained a deposited clone. In one embodiment, antisense sequence is generated internally by the organism, in another embodiment, the antisense sequence is separately administered (see, for example, O'Connor, Neurochem., 56:560 (1991). Oligodeoxynucleotides as Anitsense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression through antisense DNA or RNA, or through triple-helix formation. Antisense techniques are discussed for example, in Okano, Neurochem., 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Triple helix formation is discussed in, for instance, Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science, 241:456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science, 251:1300 (1991). The methods are based on binding of a polynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA.

[0813] For example, the use of c-myc and c-myb antisense RNA constructs to inhibit the growth of the non-lymphocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and other cell lines was previously described. (Wickstrom et al. (1988); Anfossi et al. (1989)). These experiments were performed in vitro by incubating cells with the oligoribonucleotide. A similar procedure for in vivo use is described in WO 91/15580. Briefly, a pair of oligonucleotides for a given antisense RNA is produced as follows: A sequence complimentary to the first 15 bases of the open reading frame is flanked by an EcoR1 site on the 5 end and a HindIII site on the 3 end. Next, the pair of oligonucleotides is heated at 90° C. for one minute and then annealed in 2× ligation buffer (20 mM TRIS HCl pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl2, 10 MM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.2 mM ATP) and then ligated to the EcoR1/Hind III site of the retroviral vector PMV7 (WO 91/15580).

[0814] For example, the 5′ coding portion of a polynucleotide that encodes the mature polypeptide of the present invention may be used to design an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the gene involved in transcription thereby preventing transcription and the production of the receptor. The antisense RNA oligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNA molecule into receptor polypeptide.

[0815] In one embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid of the invention is produced intracellularly by transcription from an exogenous sequence. For example, a vector or a portion thereof, is transcribed, producing an antisense nucleic acid (RNA) of the invention. Such a vector would contain a sequence encoding the antisense nucleic acid of the invention. Such a vector can remain episomal or become chromosomally integrated, as long as it can be transcribed to produce the desired antisense RNA. Such vectors can be constructed by recombinant DNA technology methods standard in the art. Vectors can be plasmid, viral, or others known in the art, used for replication and expression in vertebrate cells. Expression of the sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention, or fragments thereof, can be by any promoter known in the art to act in vertebrate, preferably human cells. Such promoters can be inducible or constitutive. Such promoters include, but are not limited to, the SV40 early promoter region (Bernoist and Chambon, Nature, 29:304-310 (1981), the promoter contained in the 3′ long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamoto et al., Cell, 22:787-797 (1980), the herpes thymidine promoter (Wagner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 78:1441-1445 (1981), the regulatory sequences of the metallothionein gene (Brinster et al., Nature, 296:39-42 (1982)), etc.

[0816] The antisense nucleic acids of the invention comprise a sequence complementary to at least a portion of an RNA transcript of a gene of interest. However, absolute complementarity, although preferred, is not required. A sequence “complementary to at least a portion of an RNA,” referred to herein, means a sequence having sufficient complementarity to be able to hybridize with the RNA, forming a stable duplex; in the case of double stranded antisense nucleic acids of the invention, a single strand of the duplex DNA may thus be tested, or triplex formation may be assayed. The ability to hybridize will depend on both the degree of complementarity and the length of the antisense nucleic acid Generally, the larger the hybridizing nucleic acid, the more base mismatches with a RNA sequence of the invention it may contain and still form a stable duplex (or triplex as the case may be). One skilled in the art can ascertain a tolerable degree of mismatch by use of standard procedures to determine the melting point of the hybridized complex.

[0817] Oligonucleotides that are complementary to the 5′ end of the message, e.g., the 5′ untranslated sequence up to and including the AUG initiation codon, should work most efficiently at inhibiting translation. However, sequences complementary to the 3′ untranslated sequences of mRNAs have been shown to be effective at inhibiting translation of mRNAs as well. See generally, Wagner, R., Nature, 372:333-335 (1994). Thus, oligonucleotides complementary to either the 5′- or 3′-non-translated, non-coding regions of a polynucleotide sequence of the invention could be used in an antisense approach to inhibit translation of endogenous mRNA. Oligonucleotides complementary to the 5′ untranslated region of the mRNA should include the complement of the AUG start codon. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mRNA coding regions are less efficient inhibitors of translation but could be used in accordance with the invention. Whether designed to hybridize to the 5′-, 3′- or coding region of mRNA, antisense nucleic acids should be at least six nucleotides in length, and are preferably oligonucleotides ranging from 6 to about 50 nucleotides in length. In specific aspects the oligonucleotide is at least 10 nucleotides, at least 17 nucleotides, at least 25 nucleotides or at least 50 nucleotides.

[0818] The polynucleotides of the invention can be DNA or RNA or chimeric mixtures or derivatives or modified versions thereof, single-stranded or double-stranded. The oligonucleotide can be modified at the base moiety, sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone, for example, to improve stability of the molecule, hybridization, etc. The oligonucleotide may include other appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cell receptors in vivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cell membrane (see, e.g., Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:6553-6556 (1989); Lemaitre et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 84:648-652 (1987); PCI Publication NO: WO88/09810, published December 15, 1988) or the blood-brain barrier (see, e.g., PCT Publication NO: WO89/10134, published April 25, 1988), hybridization-triggered cleavage agents. (See, e.g., Krol et al., BioTechniques, 6:958-976 (1988)) or intercalating agents. (See, e.g., Zon, Pharm. Res., 5:539-549 (1988)). To this end, the oligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide, hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, transport agent, hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, etc.

[0819] The antisense oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modified base moiety which is selected from the group including, but not limited to, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xantine, 4acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w, and 2,6-diaminopurine.

[0820] The antisense oligonucleotide may also comprise at least one modified sugar moiety selected from the group including, but not limited to, arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

[0821] In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group including, but not limited to, a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester, and a formacetal or analog thereof.

[0822] In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is an a-anomeric oligonucleotide. An a-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specific double-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to the usual b-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15:6625-6641 (1987)). The oligonucleotide is a 2-0-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15:6131-6148 (1987)), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., FEBS Lett. 215:327-330 (1987)).

[0823] Polynucleotides of the invention may be synthesized by standard methods known in the art, e.g. by use of an automated DNA synthesizer (such as are commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, etc.). As examples, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides may be synthesized by the method of Stein et al. (Nucl. Acids Res., 16:3209 (1988)), methylphosphonate oligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlled pore glass polymer supports (Sarin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 85:7448-7451 (1988)), etc.

[0824] While antisense nucleotides complementary to the coding region sequence of the invention could be used, those complementary to the transcribed untranslated region are most preferred.

[0825] Potential antagonists according to the invention also include catalytic RNA, or a ribozyme (See, e.g., PCT International Publication WO 90/11364, published Oct. 4, 1990; Sarver et al, Science, 247:1222-1225 (1990). While ribozymes that cleave mRNA at site specific recognition sequences can be used to destroy mRNAs corresponding to the polynucleotides of the invention, the use of hammerhead ribozymes is preferred. Hammerhead ribozymes cleave mRNAs at locations dictated by flanking regions that form complementary base pairs with the target mRNA. The sole requirement is that the target mRNA have the following sequence of two bases: 5′-UG-3′. The construction and production of hammerhead ribozymes is well known in the art and is described more fully in Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature, 334:585-591 (1988). There are numerous potential hammerhead ribozyme cleavage sites within each nucleotide sequence disclosed in the sequence listing. Preferably, the ribozyme is engineered so that the cleavage recognition site is located near the 5′ end of the mRNA corresponding to the polynucleotides of the invention; i.e., to increase efficiency and minimize the intracellular accumulation of non-functional mRNA transcripts.

[0826] As in the antisense approach, the ribozymes of the invention can be composed of modified oligonucleotides (e.g. for improved stability, targeting, etc.) and should be delivered to cells which express the polynucleotides of the invention in vivo. DNA constructs encoding the ribozyme may be introduced into the cell in the same manner as described above for the introduction of antisense encoding DNA. A preferred method of delivery involves using a DNA construct “encoding” the ribozyme under the control of a strong constitutive promoter, such as, for example, pol III or pol II promoter, so that transfected cells will produce sufficient quantities of the ribozyme to destroy endogenous messages and inhibit translation. Since ribozymes unlike antisense molecules, are catalytic, a lower intracellular concentration is required for efficiency.

[0827] Antagonist/agonist compounds may be employed to inhibit the cell growth and proliferation effects of the polypeptides of the present invention on neoplastic cells and tissues, i.e. stimulation of angiogenesis of tumors, and, therefore, retard or prevent abnormal cellular growth and proliferation, for example, in tumor formation or growth.

[0828] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to prevent hyper-vascular diseases, and prevent the proliferation of epithelial lens cells after extracapsular cataract surgery. Prevention of the mitogenic activity of the polypeptides of the present invention may also be desirous in cases such as restenosis after balloon angioplasty.

[0829] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to prevent the growth of scar tissue during wound healing.

[0830] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose the diseases described herein.

[0831] Thus, the invention provides a method of treating or preventing diseases, disorders, and/or conditions, including but not limited to the diseases, disorders, and/or conditions listed throughout this application, associated with overexpression of a polynucleotide of the present invention by administering to a patient (a) an antisense molecule directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention, and/or (b) a ribozyme directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention. invention, and/or (b) a ribozyme directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention

[0832] Other Activities

[0833] The polypeptide of the present invention, as a result of the ability to stimulate vascular endothelial cell growth, may be employed in treatment for stimulating re-vascularization of ischemic tissues due to various disease conditions such as thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascular conditions. These polypeptide may also be employed to stimulate angiogenesis and limb regeneration, as discussed above.

[0834] The polypeptide may also be employed for treating wounds due to injuries, burns, post-operative tissue repair, and ulcers since they are mitogenic to various cells of different origins, such as fibroblast cells and skeletal muscle cells, and therefore, facilitate the repair or replacement of damaged or diseased tissue.

[0835] The polypeptide of the present invention may also be employed stimulate neuronal growth and to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose neuronal damage which occurs in certain neuronal disorders or neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and AIDS-related complex. The polypeptide of the invention may have the ability to stimulate chondrocyte growth, therefore, they may be employed to enhance bone and periodontal regeneration and aid in tissue transplants or bone grafts.

[0836] The polypeptide of the present invention may be also be employed to prevent skin aging due to sunburn by stimulating keratinocyte growth.

[0837] The polypeptide of the invention may also be employed for preventing hair loss, since FGF family members activate hair-forming cells and promotes melanocyte growth. Along the same lines, the polypeptides of the present invention may be employed to stimulate growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and bone marrow cells when used in combination with other cytokines.

[0838] The polypeptide of the invention may also be employed to maintain organs before transplantation or for supporting cell culture of primary tissues.

[0839] The polypeptide of the present invention may also be employed for inducing tissue of mesodermal origin to differentiate in early embryos.

[0840] The polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists of the present invention may also increase or decrease the differentiation or proliferation of embryonic stem cells, besides, as discussed above, hematopoietic lineage.

[0841] The polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists of the present invention may also be used to modulate mammalian characteristics, such as body height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin, percentage of adipose tissue, pigmentation, size, and shape (e.g., cosmetic surgery). Similarly, polypeptides or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists of the present invention may be used to modulate mammalian metabolism affecting catabolism, anabolism, processing, utilization, and storage of energy.

[0842] Polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists of the present invention may be used to change a mammal's mental state or physical state by influencing biorhythms, caricadic rhythms, depression (including depressive diseases, disorders, and/or conditions), tendency for violence, tolerance for pain, reproductive capabilities (preferably by Activin or Inhibin-like activity), hormonal or endocrine levels, appetite, libido, memory, stress, or other cognitive qualities.

[0843] Polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists of the present invention may also be used as a food additive or preservative, such as to increase or decrease storage capabilities, fat content, lipid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors or other nutritional components.

[0844] Other Preferred Embodiments

[0845] Other preferred embodiments of the claimed invention include an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 50 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1.

[0846] Also preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequence of contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with the nucleotide at about the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence and ending with the nucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0847] Also preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequence of contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with the nucleotide at about the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the Start Codon and ending with the nucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0848] Similarly preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequence of contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with the nucleotide at about the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the First Amino Acid of the Signal Peptide and ending with the nucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0849] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X.

[0850] Further preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 500 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X.

[0851] A further preferred embodiment is a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X beginning with the nucleotide at about the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the First Amino Acid of the Signal Peptide and ending with the nucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0852] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the complete nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X.

[0853] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes does not hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues or of only T residues.

[0854] Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising a DNA molecule which comprises a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1, which DNA molecule is contained in the material deposited with the American Type Culture Collection and given the ATCC Deposit Number shown in Table 1 for said cDNA Clone Identifier.

[0855] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1, which DNA molecule is contained in the deposit given the ATCC Deposit Number shown in Table 1.

[0856] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein said sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of the complete open reading frame sequence encoded by said human cDNA clone.

[0857] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to sequence of at least 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence encoded by said human cDNA clone.

[0858] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to sequence of at least 500 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence encoded by said human cDNA clone.

[0859] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the complete nucleotide sequence encoded by said human cDNA clone.

[0860] A further preferred embodiment is a method for detecting in a biological sample a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1; which method comprises a step of comparing a nucleotide sequence of at least one nucleic acid molecule in said sample with a sequence selected from said group and determining whether the sequence of said nucleic acid molecule in said sample is at least 95% identical to said selected sequence.

[0861] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparing sequences comprises determining the extent of nucleic acid hybridization between nucleic acid molecules in said sample and a nucleic acid molecule comprising said sequence selected from said group. Similarly, also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparing sequences is performed by comparing the nucleotide sequence determined from a nucleic acid molecule in said sample with said sequence selected from said group. The nucleic acid molecules can comprise DNA molecules or RNA molecules.

[0862] A further preferred embodiment is a method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of a biological sample which method comprises a step of detecting nucleic acid molecules in said sample, if any, comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0863] The method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of a biological sample can comprise a step of detecting nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence in a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from said group.

[0864] Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject a pathological condition associated with abnormal structure or expression of a gene encoding a secreted protein identified in Table 1, which method comprises a step of detecting in a biological sample obtained from said subject nucleic acid molecules, if any, comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0865] The method for diagnosing a pathological condition can comprise a step of detecting nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence in a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from said group.

[0866] Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising isolated nucleic acid molecules wherein the nucleotide sequences of said nucleic acid molecules comprise a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1. The nucleic acid molecules can comprise DNA molecules or RNA molecules.

[0867] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1.

[0868] Also preferred is a polypeptide, wherein said sequence of contiguous amino acids is included in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y in the range of positions beginning with the residue at about the position of the First Amino Acid of the Secreted Portion and ending with the residue at about the Last Amino Acid-of the Open Reading Frame as set forth for SEQ ID NO:Y in Table 1.

[0869] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0870] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0871] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the complete amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0872] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10 contiguous amino acids in the complete amino acid sequence of a secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0873] Also preferred is a polypeptide wherein said sequence of contiguous amino acids is included in the amino acid sequence of a secreted portion of the secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0874] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of the secreted portion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0875] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100 contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of the secreted portion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0876] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of the secreted portion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0877] Further preferred is an isolated antibody which binds specifically to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0878] Further preferred is a method for detecting in a biological sample a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1; which method comprises a step of comparing an amino acid sequence of at least one polypeptide molecule in said sample with a sequence selected from said group and determining whether the sequence of said polypeptide molecule in said sample is at least 90% identical to said sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids.

[0879] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparing an amino acid sequence of at least one polypeptide molecule in said sample with a sequence selected from said group comprises determining the extent of specific binding of polypeptides in said sample to an antibody which binds specifically to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0880] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparing sequences is performed by comparing the amino acid sequence determined from a polypeptide molecule in said sample with said sequence selected from said group.

[0881] Also preferred is a method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of a biological sample which method comprises a step of detecting polypeptide molecules in said sample, if any, comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0882] Also preferred is the above method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of a biological sample, which method comprises a step of detecting polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acid sequence in a panel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the above group.

[0883] Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject a pathological condition associated with abnormal structure or expression of a gene encoding a secreted protein identified in Table 1, which method comprises a step of detecting in a biological sample obtained from said subject polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acid sequence in a panel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0884] In any of these methods, the step of detecting said polypeptide molecules includes using an antibody.

[0885] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0886] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein said nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide has been optimized for expression of said polypeptide in a prokaryotic host.

[0887] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein said polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of a secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0888] Further preferred is a method of making a recombinant vector comprising inserting any of the above isolated nucleic acid molecule into a vector. Also preferred is the recombinant vector produced by this method. Also preferred is a method of making a recombinant host cell comprising introducing the vector into a host cell, as well as the recombinant host cell produced by this method.

[0889] Also preferred is a method of making an isolated polypeptide comprising culturing this recombinant host cell under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide. Also preferred is this method of making an isolated polypeptide, wherein said recombinant host cell is a eukaryotic cell and said polypeptide is a secreted portion of a human secreted protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y beginning with the residue at the position of the First Amino Acid of the Secreted Portion of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is an integer set forth in Table 1 and said position of the First Amino Acid of the Secreted Portion of SEQ ID NO:Y is defined in Table 1; and an amino acid sequence of a secreted portion of a protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1. The isolated polypeptide produced by this method is also preferred.

[0890] Also preferred is a method of treatment of an individual in need of an increased level of a secreted protein activity, which method comprises administering to such an individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of an isolated polypeptide, polynucleotide, or antibody of the claimed invention effective to increase the level of said protein activity in said individual.

[0891] The above-recited applications have uses in a wide variety of hosts. Such hosts include, but are not limited to, human, murine, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, mouse, rat, hamster, pig, micro-pig, chicken, goat, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate, and human. In specific embodiments, the host is a mouse, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, chicken, rat, hamster, pig, sheep, dog or cat. In preferred embodiments, the host is a mammal. In most preferred embodiments, the host is a human.

[0892] In specific embodiments of the invention, for each “Contig ID” listed in the fourth column of Table 2, preferably excluded are one or more polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleotide sequence referenced in the fifth column of Table 2 and described by the general formula of a-b, whereas a and b are uniquely determined for the corresponding SEQ ID NO:X referred to in column 3 of Table 2. Further specific embodiments are directed to polynucleotide sequences excluding one, two, three, four, or more of the specific polynucleotide sequences referred to in the fifth column of Table 2. In no way is this listing meant to encompass all of the sequences which may be excluded by the general formula, it is just a representative example. All references available through these accessions are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TABLE 2 NT SEQ ID cDNA Clone NO: Gene No. ID X Contig ID Public Accession Numbers 1 HLICQ90 11 791828 T91236, T86019, T99745, H26993, H30177, H42449, H78217, H90333, N62729, N75483, AA430026, AA430235 4 HMACO04 14 829265 T68728, T68746, T68794, T68813, T89540, R72283, R72320, H19329, H38021, H38246, H70681, H95507, AA025779, AA025778, AA025920 5 HMAHY59 15 826003 R06989, R28538, R71873, R71880, R71897, R77885, R77978, H30007, H30008, R88696, R90942, H49957, H50479, H63845, H63846, N74299, N93977, W05209, AA428961, AA429078 7 HKABY55 17 821607 T40555, R16077, R15713, R66066, R67665, R72008, R72007, R72471, R72869, R72882, R73342, R73357, H00901, H00902, H02520, R93337, N94336, AA010655, AA010656, AA047596, AA130587, AA130551 15 HWBAS39 25 823926 R21399, R52101, R52196, R55654, H09798, H22862, H41225, R90791, R90894, H84247, H84246, H87060, H92415, AA018825, AA173352 19 HLWBY76 29 797609 N30680 20 HDPBN34 30 665433 N47245 21 HMS11Y73 31 784862 T49414, R17179, H02748, R84902, H66713, N44946, W19836, W47291 44 HCWDL75 54 825939 H70608, AA053601 46 HCMSSO6 56 912881 H83784, H83927, W32197, W32232, W33189, W37255, AA192426, AA192427, AA194737, AA661735, AA688029, AA902491, AA903899, F19507, F20527, AA854779, A1218954, AI659751 46 HCMSSO6 61 815654 H83784, H83927, W32197, W32232, W33189, W37255, AA192426, AA192427 47 HIBCE35 57 823743 T40292, T41126, T41157

[0893] Having generally described the invention, the same will be more readily understood by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of a Selected cDNA Clone from the Deposited Sample

[0894] Each cDNA clone in a cited ATCC deposit is contained in a plasmid vector. Table 1 identifies the vectors used to construct the cDNA library from which each clone was isolated. In many cases, the vector used to construct the library is a phage vector from which a plasmid has been excised. The table immediately below correlates the related plasmid for each phage vector used in constructing the cDNA library. For example, where a particular clone is identified in Table 1 as being isolated in the vector “Lambda Zap,” the corresponding deposited clone is in “pBluescript.” Vector Used to Construct Library Plasmid Corresponding Deposited Lambda Zap pBluescript (pBS) Uni-Zap XR pBluescript (pBS) Zap Express pBK lafmid BA plafmid BA pSport1 pSport1 pCMVSport 2.0 pCMVSport 2.0 pCMVSport 3.0 pCMVSport 3.0 pCR ® 2.1 pCR ® 2.1

[0895] Vectors Lambda Zap (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Uni-Zap XR (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128, 256 and 5,286,636), Zap Express (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), pBluescript (pBS) (Short, J. M. et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 16:7583-7600 (1988); Alting-Mees, M. A. and Short, J. M., Nucleic Acids Res. 17:9494 (1989)) and pBK (Alting-Mees, M. A. et al., Strategies 5:58-61 (1992)) are commercially available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc., 11011 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, Calif., 92037. pBS contains an ampicillin resistance gene and pBK contains a neomycin resistance gene. Both can be transformed into E. coli strain XL-1 Blue, also available from Stratagene. pBS comes in 4 forms SK+, SK−, KS+ and KS. The S and K refers to the orientation of the polylinker to the T7 and T3 primer sequences which flank the polylinker region (“S” is for SacI and “K” is for KpnI which are the first sites on each respective end of the linker). “+” or “−” refer to the orientation of the f1 origin of replication (“ori”), such that in one orientation, single stranded rescue initiated from the f1 ori generates sense strand DNA and in the other, antisense.

[0896] Vectors pSport1, pCMVSport 2.0 and pCMVSport 3.0, were obtained from Life Technologies, Inc., P. O. Box 6009, Gaithersburg, Md. 20897. All Sport vectors contain an ampicillin resistance gene and may be transformed into E. coli strain DH10B, also available from Life Technologies. (See, for instance, Gruber, C. E., et al., Focus 15:59 (1993).) Vector lafmid BA (Bento Soares, Columbia University, NY) contains an ampicillin resistance gene and can be transformed into E. coli strain XL-1 Blue. Vector pCR®2.1, which is available from Invitrogen, 1600 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008, contains an ampicillin resistance gene and may be transformed into E. coli strain DH10B, available from Life Technologies. (See, for instance, Clark, J. M., Nuc. Acids Res. 16:9677-9686 (1988) and Mead, D. et al., Bio/Technology 9: (1991).) Preferably, a polynucleotide of the present invention does not comprise the phage vector sequences identified for the particular clone in Table 1, as well as the corresponding plasmid vector sequences designated above.

[0897] The deposited material in the sample assigned the ATCC Deposit Number cited in Table 1 for any given cDNA clone also may contain one or more additional plasmids, each comprising a cDNA clone different from that given clone. Thus, deposits sharing the same ATCC Deposit Number contain at least a plasmid for each cDNA clone identified in Table 1. Typically, each ATCC deposit sample cited in Table 1 comprises a mixture of approximately equal amounts (by weight) of about 50 plasmid DNAs, each containing a different cDNA clone; but such a deposit sample may include plasmids for more or less than 50 cDNA clones, up to about 500 cDNA clones.

[0898] Two approaches can be used to isolate a particular clone from the deposited sample of plasmid DNAs cited for that clone in Table 1. First, a plasmid is directly isolated by screening the clones using a polynucleotide probe corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X.

[0899] Particularly, a specific polynucleotide with 3040 nucleotides is synthesized using an Applied Biosystems DNA synthesizer according to the sequence reported. The oligonucleotide is labeled, for instance, with ³²P-y-ATP using T4 polynucleotide kinase and purified according to routine methods. (E.g., Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring, NY (1982).) The plasmid mixture is transformed into a suitable host, as indicated above (such as XL-1 Blue (Stratagene)) using techniques known to those of skill in the art, such as those provided by the vector supplier or in related publications or patents cited above. The transformants are plated on 1.5% agar plates (containing the appropriate selection agent, e.g., ampicillin) to a density of about 150 transformants (colonies) per plate. These plates are screened using Nylon membranes according to routine methods for bacterial colony screening (e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edit., (1989), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pages 1.93 to 1.104), or other techniques known to those of skill in the art.

[0900] Alternatively, two primers of 17-20 nucleotides derived from both ends of the SEQ ID NO:X (i.e., within the region of SEQ ID NO:X bounded by the 5′ NT and the 3′ NT of the clone defined in Table 1) are synthesized and used to amplify the desired cDNA using the deposited cDNA plasmid as a template. The polymerase chain reaction is carried out under routine conditions, for instance, in 25 ul of reaction mixture with 0.5 ug of the above cDNA template. A convenient reaction mixture is 1.5-5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% (w/v) gelatin, 20 uM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, 25 pmol of each primer and 0.25 Unit of Taq polymerase. Thirty five cycles of PCR (denaturation at 94 degree C. for 1 min; annealing at 55 degree C. for 1 min; elongation at 72 degree C. for 1 min) are performed with a Perkin-Elmer Cetus automated thermal cycler. The amplified product is analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the DNA band with expected molecular weight is excised and purified. The PCR product is verified to be the selected sequence by subcloning and sequencing the DNA product.

[0901] Several methods are available for the identification of the 5′ or 3′ non-coding portions of a gene which may not be present in the deposited clone. These methods include but are not limited to, filter probing, clone enrichment using specific probes, and protocols similar or identical to 5′ and 3′ “RACE” protocols which are well known in the art. For instance, a method similar to 5 RACE is available for generating the missing 5′ end of a desired full-length transcript. (Fromont-Racine et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 21(7):1683-1684 (1993).) Briefly, a specific RNA oligonucleotide is ligated to the 5′ ends of a population of RNA presumably containing full-length gene RNA transcripts. A primer set containing a primer specific to the ligated RNA oligonucleotide and a primer specific to a known sequence of the gene of interest is used to PCR amplify the 5 portion of the desired full-length gene. This amplified product may then be sequenced and used to generate the full length gene.

[0902] This above method starts with total RNA isolated from the desired source, although poly-A+ RNA can be used. The RNA preparation can then be treated with phosphatase if necessary to eliminate 5′ phosphate groups on degraded or damaged RNA which may interfere with the later RNA ligase step. The phosphatase should then be inactivated and the RNA treated with tobacco acid pyrophosphatase in order to remove the cap structure present at the 5′ ends of messenger RNAs. This reaction leaves a 5′ phosphate group at the 5′ end of the cap cleaved RNA which can then be ligated to an RNA oligonucleotide using T4 RNA ligase.

[0903] This modified RNA preparation is used as a template for first strand cDNA synthesis using a gene specific oligonucleotide. The first strand synthesis reaction is used as a template for PCR amplification of the desired 5′ end using a primer specific to the ligated RNA oligonucleotide and a primer specific to the known sequence of the gene of interest. The resultant product is then sequenced and analyzed to confirm that the 5′ end sequence belongs to the desired gene.

Example 2 Isolation of Genomic Clones Corresponding to a Polynucleotide

[0904] A human genomic P1 library (Genomic Systems, Inc.) is screened by PCR using primers selected for the cDNA sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X., according to the method described in Example 1. (See also, Sambrook.)

Example 3 Tissue Distribution of Polypeptide

[0905] Tissue distribution of mRNA expression of polynucleotides of the present invention is determined using protocols for Northern blot analysis, described by, among others, Sambrook et al. For example, a cDNA probe produced by the method described in Example 1 is labeled with P³² using the rediprime™ DNA labeling system (Amersham Life Science), according to manufacturer's instructions. After labeling, the probe is purified using CHROMA SPIN-100™ column (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), according to manufacturer's protocol number PT 1200-1. The purified labeled probe is then used to examine various human tissues for mRNA expression.

[0906] Multiple Tissue Northern (MTN) blots containing various human tissues (H) or human immune system tissues (IM) (Clontech) are, examined with the labeled probe using ExpressHyb™ hybridization solution (Clontech) according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1190-1. Following hybridization and washing, the blots are mounted and exposed to film at −70 degree C. overnight, and the films developed according to standard procedures.

Example 4 Chromosomal Mapping of the Polynucleotides

[0907] An oligonucleotide primer set is designed according to the sequence at the 5′ end of SEQ ID NO:X. This primer preferably spans about 100 nucleotides. This primer set is then used in a polymerase chain reaction under the following set of conditions: 30 seconds,95 degree C.; 1 minute, 56 degree C.; 1 minute, 70 degree C. This cycle is repeated 32 times followed by one 5 minute cycle at 70 degree C. Human, mouse, and hamster DNA is used as template in addition to a somatic cell hybrid panel containing individual chromosomes or chromosome fragments (Bios, Inc). The reactions is analyzed on either 8% polyacrylamide gels or 3.5% agarose gels. Chromosome mapping is determined by the presence of an approximately 100 bp PCR fragment in the particular somatic cell hybrid.

Example 5 Bacterial Expression of a Polypeptide

[0908] A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention is amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′ and 3′ ends of the DNA sequence, as outlined in Example 1, to synthesize insertion fragments. The primers used to amplify the cDNA insert should preferably contain restriction sites, such as BamHI and XbaI, at the 5′ end of the primers in order to clone the amplified product into the expression vector. For example, BamHI and XbaI correspond to the restriction enzyme sites on the bacterial expression vector pQE-9. (Qiagen, Inc., Chatsworth, Calif.). This plasmid vector encodes antibiotic resistance (Ampr), a bacterial origin of replication (ori), an IPTG-regulatable promoter/operator (P/O), a ribosome binding site (RBS), a 6-histidine tag (6-His), and restriction enzyme cloning sites.

[0909] The pQE-9 vector is digested with BamHI and XbaI and the amplified fragment is ligated into the pQE-9 vector maintaining the reading frame initiated at the bacterial RBS. The ligation mixture is then used to transform the E. coli strain M15/rep4 (Qiagen, Inc.) which contains multiple copies of the plasmid pREP4, which expresses the lacI repressor and also confers kanamycin resistance (Kan^(r)). Transformants are identified by their ability to grow on LB plates and ampicillin/kanamycin resistant colonies are selected. Plasmid DNA is isolated and confirmed by restriction analysis.

[0910] Clones containing the desired constructs are grown overnight (O/N) in liquid culture in LB media supplemented with both Amp (100 ug/ml) and Kan (25 ug/ml). The O/N culture is used to inoculate a large culture at a ratio of 1:100 to 1:250. The cells are grown to an optical density 600 (O.D.⁶⁰⁰) of between 0.4 and 0.6. IPTG (Isopropyl-B-D-thiogalacto pyranoside) is then added to a final concentration of 1 mM. IPTG induces by inactivating the lacI repressor, clearing the P/O leading to increased gene expression.

[0911] Cells are grown for an extra 3 to 4 hours. Cells are then harvested by centrifugation (20 mins at 6000× g). The cell pellet is solubilized in the chaotropic agent 6 Molar Guanidine HCl by stirring for 34 hours at 4 degree C. The cell debris is removed by centrifugation, and the supernatant containing the polypeptide is loaded onto a nickel-nitrilo-tri-acetic acid (“Ni-NTA”) affinity resin column (available from QIAGEN, Inc., supra). Proteins with a 6× His tag bind to the Ni-NTA resin with high affinity and can be purified in a simple one-step procedure (for details see: The QlAexpressionist (1995) QIAGEN, Inc., supra).

[0912] Briefly, the supernatant is loaded onto the column in 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 8, the column is first washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 8, then washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl pH 6, and finally the polypeptide is eluted with 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 5.

[0913] The purified protein is then renatured by dialyzing it against phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 50 mM Na-acetate, pH 6 buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. Alternatively, the protein can be successfully refolded while immobilized on the Ni-NTA column. The recommended conditions are as follows: renature using a linear 6M-1M urea gradient in 500 mM NaCl, 20% glycerol, 20 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.4, containing protease inhibitors. The renaturation should be performed over a period of 1.5 hours or more. After renaturation the proteins are eluted by the addition of 250 mM immidazole. Immidazole is removed by a final dialyzing step against PBS or 50 mM sodium acetate pH 6 buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. The purified protein is stored at 4 degree C. or frozen at −80 degree C.

[0914] In addition to the above expression vector, the present invention further includes an expression vector comprising phage operator and promoter elements operatively linked to a polynucleotide of the present invention, called pHE4a. (ATCC Accession Number 209645, deposited on Feb. 25, 1998.) This vector contains: 1) a neomycinphosphotransferase gene as a selection marker, 2) an E. coli origin of replication, 3) a T5 phage promoter sequence, 4) two lac operator sequences, 5) a Shine-Delgarno sequence, and 6) the lactose operon repressor gene (lacIq). The origin of replication (oriC) is derived from pUC19 (LTI, Gaithersburg, Md.). The promoter sequence and operator sequences are made synthetically.

[0915] DNA can be inserted into the pHEa by restricting the vector with NdeI and XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718, running the restricted product on a gel, and isolating the larger fragment (the stuffer fragment should be about 310 base pairs). The DNA insert is generated according to the PCR protocol described in Example 1, using PCR primers having restriction sites for NdeI (5′ primer) and XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718 (3′ primer). The PCR insert is gel purified and restricted with compatible enzymes. The insert and vector are ligated according to standard protocols.

[0916] The engineered vector could easily be substituted in the above protocol to express protein in a bacterial system.

Example 6 Purification of a Polypeptide from an Inclusion Body

[0917] The following alternative method can be used to purify a polypeptide expressed in E coli when it is present in the form of inclusion bodies. Unless otherwise specified, all of the following steps are conducted at 4-10 degree C.

[0918] Upon completion of the production phase of the E. coli fermentation, the cell culture is cooled to 4-10 degree C. and the cells harvested by continuous centrifugation at 15,000 rpm (Heraeus Sepatech). On the basis of the expected yield of protein per unit weight of cell paste and the amount of purified protein required, an appropriate amount of cell paste, by weight, is suspended in a buffer solution containing 100 mM Tris, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.4. The cells are dispersed to a homogeneous suspension using a high shear mixer.

[0919] The cells are then lysed by passing the solution through a microfluidizer (Microfuidics, Corp. or APV Gaulin, Inc.) twice at 4000-6000 psi. The homogenate is then mixed with NaCl solution to a final concentration of 0.5 M NaCl, followed by centrifugation at 7000× g for 15 min. The resultant pellet is washed again using 0.5M NaCl, 100 mM Tris, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.4.

[0920] The resulting washed inclusion bodies are solubilized with 1.5 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) for 24 hours. After 7000× g centrifugation for 15 min., the pellet is discarded and the polypeptide containing supernatant is incubated at 4 degree C. overnight to allow further GuHCl extraction.

[0921] Following high speed centrifugation (30,000× g) to remove insoluble particles, the GuHCl solubilized protein is refolded by quickly mixing the GuHCl extract with 20 volumes of buffer containing 50 mM sodium, pH 4.5, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA by vigorous stirring. The refolded diluted protein solution is kept at 4 degree C. without mixing for 12 hours prior to further purification steps.

[0922] To clarify the refolded polypeptide solution, a previously prepared tangential filtration unit equipped with 0.16 um membrane filter with appropriate surface area (e.g., Filtron), equilibrated with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 is employed. The filtered sample is loaded onto a cation exchange resin (e.g., Poros HS-50, Perseptive Biosystems). The column is washed with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 and eluted with 250 mM, 500 mM, 1000 mM, and 1500 mM NaCl in the same buffer, in a stepwise manner. The absorbance at 280 nm of the effluent is continuously monitored. Fractions are collected and further analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

[0923] Fractions containing the polypeptide are then pooled and mixed with 4 volumes of water. The diluted sample is then loaded onto a previously prepared set of tandem columns of strong anion (Poros HQ-50, Perseptive Biosystems) and weak anion (Poros CM-20, Perseptive Biosystems) exchange resins. The columns are equilibrated with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0. Both columns are washed with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0, 200 mM NaCl. The CM-20 column is then eluted using a 10 column volume linear gradient ranging from 0.2 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 to 1.0 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.5. Fractions are collected under constant A₂₈₀ monitoring of the effluent. Fractions containing the polypeptide (determined, for instance, by 16% SDS-PAGE) are then pooled.

[0924] The resultant polypeptide should exhibit greater than 95% purity after the above refolding and purification steps. No major contaminant bands should be observed from Commassie blue stained 16% SDS-PAGE gel when 5 ug of purified protein is loaded. The purified protein can also be tested for endotoxin/LPS contamination, and typically the LPS content is less than 0.1 ng/ml according to LAL assays.

Example 7 Cloning and Expression of a Polypeptide in a Baculovirus Expression System

[0925] In this example, the plasmid shuttle vector pA2 is used to insert a polynucleotide into a baculovirus to express a polypeptide. This expression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of the Autographa califormica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) followed by convenient restriction sites such as BamHI, Xba I and Asp718. The polyadenylation site of the simian virus 40 (“SV40”) is used for efficient polyadenylation. For easy selection of recombinant virus, the plasmid contains the beta-galactosidase gene from E. coli under control of a weak Drosophila promoter in the same orientation, followed by the polyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The inserted genes are flanked on both sides by viral sequences for cell-mediated homologous recombination with wild-type viral DNA to generate a viable virus that express the cloned polynucleotide.

[0926] Many other baculovirus vectors can be used in place of the vector above, such as pAc373, pVL941, and pAcIM1, as one skilled in the art would readily appreciate, as long as the construct provides appropriately located signals for transcription, translation, secretion and the like, including a signal peptide and an in-frame AUG as required. Such vectors are described, for instance, in Luckow et al., Virology 170:31-39 (1989).

[0927] Specifically, the cDNA sequence contained in the deposited clone, including the AUG initiation codon and the naturally associated leader sequence identified in Table 1, is amplified using the PCR protocol described in Example 1. If the naturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce the secreted protein, the pA2 vector does not need a second signal peptide. Alternatively, the vector can be modified (pA2 GP) to include a baculovirus leader sequence, using the standard methods described in Summers et al., “A Manual of Methods for Baculovirus Vectors and Insect Cell Culture Procedures,” Texas Agricultural Experimental Station Bulletin No. 1555 (1987).

[0928] The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restriction enzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

[0929] The plasmid is digested with the corresponding restriction enzymes and optionally, can be dephosphorylated using calf intestinal phosphatase, using routine procedures known in the art. The DNA is then isolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“Geneclean” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.).

[0930] The fragment and the dephosphorylated plasmid are ligated together with T4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB101 or other suitable E. coli hosts such as XL-1 Blue (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.) cells are transformed with the ligation mixture and spread on culture plates. Bacteria containing the plasmid are identified by digesting DNA from individual colonies and analyzing the digestion product by gel electrophoresis. The sequence of the cloned fragment is confirmed by DNA sequencing.

[0931] Five ug of a plasmid containing the polynucleotide is co-transfected with 1.0 ug of a commercially available linearized baculovirus DNA (“BaculoGold™ baculovirus DNA”, Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.), using the lipofection method described by Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7417 (1987). One ug of BaculoGold™ virus DNA and 5 ug of the plasmid are mixed in a sterile well of a microtiter plate containing 50 ul of serum-free Grace's medium (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Afterwards, 10 ul Lipofectin plus 90 ul Grace's medium are added, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at room temperature. Then the transfection mixture is added drop-wise to Sf9 insect cells (ATCC CRL 1711) seeded in a 35 mm tissue culture plate with 1 ml Grace's medium without serum. The plate is then incubated for 5 hours at 27 degrees C. The transfection solution is then removed from the plate and 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum is added. Cultivation is then continued at 27 degrees C. for four days.

[0932] After four days the supernatant is collected and a plaque assay is performed, as described by Summers and Smith, supra. An agarose gel with “Blue Gal” (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) is used to allow easy identification and isolation of gal-expressing clones, which produce blue-stained plaques. (A detailed description of a “plaque assay” of this type can also be found in the user's guide for insect cell culture and baculovirology distributed by Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, page 9-10.) After appropriate incubation, blue stained plaques are picked with the tip of a micropipettor (e.g., Eppendorf). The agar containing the recombinant viruses is then resuspended in a microcentrifuge tube containing 200 ul of Grace's medium and the suspension containing the recombinant baculovirus is used to infect Sf9 cells seeded in 35 mm dishes. Four days later the supernatants of these culture dishes are harvested and then they are stored at 4 degree C.

[0933] To verify the expression of the polypeptide, Sf9 cells are grown in Grace's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FBS. The cells are infected with the recombinant baculovirus containing the polynucleotide at a multiplicity of infection (“MOI”) of about 2. If radiolabeled proteins are desired, 6 hours later the medium is removed and is replaced with SF900 II medium minus methionine and cysteine (available from Life Technologies Inc., Rockville, Md.). After 42 hours, 5 uCi of ³⁵S-methionine and 5 uCi ³⁵S-cysteine (available from Amersham) are added. The cells are further incubated for 16 hours and then are harvested by centrifugation. The proteins in the supernatant as well as the intracellular proteins are analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography (if radiolabeled).

[0934] Microsequencing of the amino acid sequence of the amino terminus of purified protein may be used to determine the amino terminal sequence of the produced protein.

Example 8 Expression of a Polypeptide in Mammalian Cells

[0935] The polypeptide of the present invention can be expressed in a mammalian cell. A typical mammalian expression vector contains a promoter element, which mediates the initiation of transcription of mRNA, a protein coding sequence, and signals required for the termination of transcription and polyadenylation of the transcript. Additional elements include enhancers, Kozak sequences and intervening sequences flanked by donor and acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highly efficient transcription is achieved with the early and late promoters from SV40, the long terminal repeats (LTRs) from Retroviruses, e.g., RSV, HTLVI, HIVI and the early promoter of the cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, cellular elements can also be used (e.g., the human actin promoter).

[0936] Suitable expression vectors for use in practicing the present invention include, for example, vectors such as pSVL and pMSG (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC 37146), pBC12MI (ATCC 67109), pCMVSport 2.0, and pCMVSport 3.0. Mammalian host cells that could be used include, human Hela, 293, H9 and Jurkat cells, mouse NIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos 1, Cos 7 and CV1, quail QC1-3 cells, mouse L cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

[0937] Alternatively, the polypeptide can be expressed in stable cell lines containing the polynucleotide integrated into a chromosome. The co-transfection with a selectable marker such as dhfr, gpt, neomycin, hygromycin allows the identification and isolation of the transfected cells.

[0938] The transfected gene can also be amplified to express large amounts of the encoded protein. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) marker is useful in developing cell lines that carry several hundred or even several thousand copies of the gene of interest. (See, e.g., Alt, F. W., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253:1357-1370 (1978); Hamlin, J. L. and Ma, C., Biochem. et Biophys. Acta, 1097:107-143 (1990); Page, M. J. and Sydenham, M. A., Biotechnology 9:64-68 (1991).) Another useful selection marker is the enzyme glutamine synthase (GS) (Murphy et al., Biochem J. 227:277-279 (1991); Bebbington et al., Bio/Technology 10:169-175 (1992). Using these markers, the mammalian cells are grown in selective medium and the cells with the highest resistance are selected. These cell lines contain the amplified gene(s) integrated into a chromosome. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and NSO cells are often used for the production of proteins.

[0939] Derivatives of the plasmid pSV2-dhfr (ATCC Accession No. 37146), the expression vectors pC4 (ATCC Accession No. 209646) and pC6 (ATCC Accession No.209647) contain the strong promoter (LTR) of the Rous Sarcoma Virus (Cullen et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 438-447 (March, 1985)) plus a fragment of the CMV-enhancer (Boshart et al., Cell 41:521-530 (1985).) Multiple cloning sites, e.g., with the restriction enzyme cleavage sites BamHI, XbaI and Asp718, facilitate the cloning of the gene of interest. The vectors also contain the 3′ intron, the polyadenylation and termination signal of the rat preproinsulin gene, and the mouse DHFR gene under control of the SV40 early promoter.

[0940] Specifically, the plasmid pC6, for example, is digested with appropriate restriction enzymes and then dephosphorylated using calf intestinal phosphates by procedures known in the art. The vector is then isolated from a 1% agarose gel.

[0941] A polynucleotide of the present invention is amplified according to the protocol outlined in Example 1. If the naturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce the secreted protein, the vector does not need a second signal peptide. Alternatively, if the naturally occurring signal sequence is not used, the vector can be modified to include a heterologous signal sequence. (See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

[0942] The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restriction enzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

[0943] The amplified fragment is then digested with the same restriction enzyme and purified on a 1% agarose gel. The isolated fragment and the dephosphorylated vector are then ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB 101 or XL-1 Blue cells are then transformed and bacteria are identified that contain the fragment inserted into plasmid pC6 using, for instance, restriction enzyme analysis.

[0944] Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking an active DHFR gene is used for transfection. Five μg of the expression plasmid pC6 a pC4 is cotransfected with 0.5 ug of the plasmid pSVneo using lipofectin (Felgner et al., supra). The plasmid pSV2-neo contains a dominant selectable marker, the neo gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confers resistance to a group of antibiotics including G418. The cells are seeded in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 1 mg/ml G418. After 2 days, the cells are trypsinized and seeded in hybridoma cloning plates (Greiner, Germany) in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 10, 25, or 50 ng/ml of metothrexate plus 1 mg/ml G418. After about 10-14 days single clones are trypsinized and then seeded in 6-well petri dishes or 10 ml flasks using different concentrations of methotrexate (50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM). Clones growing at the highest concentrations of methotrexate are then transferred to new 6-well plates containing even higher concentrations of methotrexate (1 uM, 2 uM, 5 uM, 10 mM, 20 mM). The same procedure is repeated until clones are obtained which grow at a concentration of 100-200 uM. Expression of the desired gene product is analyzed, for instance, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot or by reversed phase HPLC analysis.

Example 9 Protein Fusions

[0945] The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably fused to other proteins. These fusion proteins can be used for a variety of applications. For example, fusion of the present polypeptides to His-tag, HA-tag, protein A, IgG domains, and maltose binding protein facilitates purification. (See Example 5; see also EP A 394,827; Traunecker, et al., Nature 331:84-86 (1988).) Similarly, fusion to IgG-1, IgG-3, and albumin increases the halflife time in vivo. Nuclear localization signals fused to the polypeptides of the present invention can target the protein to a specific subcellular localization, while covalent heterodimer or homodimers can increase or decrease the activity of a fusion protein. Fusion proteins can also create chimeric molecules having more than one function. Finally, fusion proteins can increase solubility and/or stability of the fused protein compared to the non-fused protein. All of the types of fusion proteins described above can be made by modifying the following protocol, which outlines the fusion of a polypeptide to an IgG molecule, or the protocol described in Example 5.

[0946] Briefly, the human Fc portion of the IgG molecule can be PCR amplified, using primers that span the 5′ and 3′ ends of the sequence described below. These primers also should have convenient restriction enzyme sites that will facilitate cloning into an expression vector, preferably a mammalian expression vector.

[0947] For example, if pC4 (Accession No. 209646) is used, the human Fc portion can be ligated into the BamHI cloning site. Note that the 3′ BamHI site should be destroyed. Next, the vector containing the human Fc portion is re-restricted with BamHI, linearizing the vector, and a polynucleotide of the present invention, isolated by the PCR protocol described in Example 1, is ligated into this BamHI site. Note that the polynucleotide is cloned without a stop codon, otherwise a fusion protein will not be produced.

[0948] If the naturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce the secreted protein, pC4 does not need a second signal peptide. Alternatively, if the naturally occurring signal sequence is not used, the vector can be modified to include a heterologous signal sequence. (See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

[0949] Human IgG Fc Region: GGGATCCGGAGCCCAAATCTTCTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGC (SEQ ID NO:1) CCAGCACCTGAATTCGAGGGTGCACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAA CCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACTCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGT GGTGGACGTAAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGG ACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTA CAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACT GGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCA ACCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAAC CACAGGTGTACACCCTGCCCCCATCCCGGGATGAGCTGACCAAGAACCAG GTCAGCCTGACCTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCAAGCGACATCGCCGT GGAGTGGGAGAGCAATGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCT CCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTACAGCAAGCTCACCGTG GACAAGAGCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCA TGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGG GTAAATGAGTGCGACGGCCGCGACTCTAGAGGAT

Example 10 Production of an Antibody from a Polypeptide

[0950] The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by a variety of methods. (See, Current Protocols, Chapter 2.) As one example of such methods, cells expressing a polypeptide of the present invention is administered to an animal to induce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation of the secreted protein is prepared and purified to render it substantially free of natural contaminants. Such a preparation is then introduced into an animal in order to produce polyclonal antisera of greater specific activity.

[0951] In the most preferred method, the antibodies of the present invention are monoclonal antibodies (or protein binding fragments thereof). Such monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using hybridoma technology. (Kohler et al., Nature 256:495 (1975); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:292 (1976); Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas, Elsevier, N.Y., pp. 563-681 (1981).) In general, such procedures involve immunizing an animal (preferably a mouse) with polypeptide or, more preferably, with a secreted polypeptide-expressing cell. Such cells may be cultured in any suitable tissue culture medium; however, it is preferable to culture cells in Earle's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (inactivated at about 56 degrees C.), and supplemented with about 10 g/l of nonessential amino acids, about 1,000 U/ml of penicillin, and about 100 ug/ml of streptomycin.

[0952] The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with a suitable myeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may be employed in accordance with the present invention; however, it is preferable to employ the parent myeloma cell line (SP20), available from the ATCC. After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectively maintained in HAT medium, and then cloned by limiting dilution as described by Wands et al. (Gastroenterology 80:225-232 (1981).) The hybridoma cells obtained through such a selection are then assayed to identify clones which secrete antibodies capable of binding the polypeptide.

[0953] Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of binding to the polypeptide can be produced in a two-step procedure using anti-idiotypic antibodies. Such a method makes use of the fact that antibodies are themselves antigens, and therefore, it is possible to obtain an antibody which binds to a second antibody. In accordance with this method, protein specific antibodies are used to immunize an animal, preferably a mouse. The splenocytes of such an animal are then used to produce hybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells are screened to identify clones which produce an antibody whose ability to bind to the protein-specific antibody can be blocked by the polypeptide. Such antibodies comprise anti-idiotypic antibodies to the protein-specific antibody and can be used to immunize an animal to induce formation of further protein-specific antibodies.

[0954] It will be appreciated that Fab and F(ab′)2 and other fragments of the antibodies of the present invention may be used according to the methods disclosed herein. Such fragments are typically produced by proteolytic cleavage, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) or pepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). Alternatively, secreted protein-binding fragments can be produced through the application of recombinant DNA technology or through synthetic chemistry.

[0955] For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, it may be preferable to use “humanized” chimeric monoclonal antibodies. Such antibodies can be produced using genetic constructs derived from hybridoma cells producing the monoclonal antibodies described above. Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. (See, for review, Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP 171496; Morrison et al., EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533; Robinson et al., WO 8702671; Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 314:268 (1985).)

Example 11 Production of Secreted Protein for High-throughput Screening Assays

[0956] The following protocol produces a supernatant containing a polypeptide to be tested. This supernatant can then be used in the Screening Assays described in Examples 13-20.

[0957] First, dilute Poly-D-Lysine (644 587 Boehringer-Mannheim) stock solution (1 mg/ml in PBS) 1:20 in PBS (w/o calcium or magnesium 17-516F Biowhittaker) for a working solution of 50 ug/ml. Add 200 ul of this solution to each well (24 well plates) and incubate at RT for 20 minutes. Be sure to distribute the solution over each well (note: a 12-channel pipetter may be used with tips on every other channel). Aspirate off the Poly-D-Lysine solution and rinse with 1 ml PBS (Phosphate Buffered Saline). The PBS should remain in the well until just prior to plating the cells and plates may be poly-lysine coated in advance for up to two weeks.

[0958] Plate 293T cells (do not carry cells past P+20) at 2×10⁵ cells/well in 0.5 ml DMEM(Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium)(with 4.5 G/L glucose and L-glutamine (12-604F Biowhittaker))/10% heat inactivated FBS(1,4-503F Biowhittaker)/1× Penstrep(17-602E Biowhittaker). Let the cells grow overnight.

[0959] The next day, mix together in a sterile solution basin: 300 ul Lipofectamine (18324-012 Gibco/BRL) and 5 ml Optimem I (31985070 Gibco/BRL)/96-well plate. With a small volume multi-channel pipetter, aliquot approximately 2 ug of an expression vector containing a polynucleotide insert, produced by the methods described in Examples 8 or 9, into an appropriately labeled 96-well round bottom plate. With a multi-channel pipetter, add 50 ul of the Lipofectamine/Optimem I mixture to each well. Pipette up and down gently to mix. Incubate at RT 15-45 minutes. After about 20 minutes, use a multi-channel pipetter to add 150 ul Optimem I to each well. As a control, one plate of vector DNA lacking an insert should be transfected with each set of transfections.

[0960] Preferably, the transfection should be performed by tag-teaming the following tasks. By tag-teaming, hands on time is cut in half, and the cells do not spend too much time on PBS. First, person A aspirates off the media from four 24-well plates of cells, and then person B rinses each well with 0.5-1 ml PBS. Person A then aspirates off PBS rinse, and person B, using a12-channel pipetter with tips on every other channel, adds the 200 ul of DNA/Lipofectamine/Optimem I complex to the odd wells first, then to the even wells, to each row on the 24-well plates. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 6 hours.

[0961] While cells are incubating, prepare appropriate media, either 1%BSA in DMEM with 1× penstrep, or CHO-5 media (116.6 mg/L of CaCl2 (anhyd); 0.00130 mg/L CuSO₄-5H₂O; 0.050 mg/L of Fe(NO₃)₃-9H₂O; 0.417 mg/L of FeSO₄-7H₂O; 311.80 mg/L of Kcl; 28.64 mg/L of MgCl₂; 48.84 mg/L of MgSO₄; 6995.50 mg/L of NaCl; 2400.0 mg/L of NaHCO₃; 62.50 mg/L of NaH₂PO₄-H₂O; 71.02 mg/L of Na₂HPO4; 0.4320 mg/L of ZnSO₄-7H₂O; 0.002 mg/L of Arachidonic Acid; 1.022 mg/L of Cholesterol; 0.070 mg/L of DL-alpha-Tocopherol-Acetate; 0.0520 mg/L of Linoleic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Linolenic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Myristic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Oleic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Palmitric Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Palmitic Acid; 100 mg/L of Pluronic F-68; 0.010 mg/L of Stearic Acid; 2.20 mg/L of Tween 80; 4551 mg/L of D-Glucose; 130.85 mg/ml of L-Alanine; 147.50 mg/ml of L-Arginine-HCL; 7.50 mg/ml of L-Asparagine-H₂0; 6.65 mg/ml of L-Aspartic Acid; 29.56 mg/ml of L-Cystine-2HCL-H₂0; 31.29 mg/ml of L-Cystine-2HCL; 7.35 mg/ml of L-Glutamic Acid; 365.0 mg/ml of L-Glutamine; 18.75 mg/ml of Glycine; 52.48 mg/ml of L-Histidine-HCL-H₂O; 106.97 mg/ml of L-Isoleucine; 111.45 mg/ml of L-Leucine; 163.75 mg/ml of L-Lysine HCL; 32.34 mg/ml of L-Methionine; 68.48 mg/ml of L-Phenylalamine; 40.0 mg/ml of L-Proline; 26.25 mg/ml of L-Serine; 101.05 mg/ml of L-Threonine; 19.22 mg/ml of L-Tryptophan; 91.79 mg/ml of L-Tryrosine-2Na-2H₂0; 99.65 mg/ml of L-Valine; 0.0035 mg/L of Biotin; 3.24 mg/L of D-Ca Pantothenate; 11.78 mg/L of Choline Chloride; 4.65 mg/L of Folic Acid; 15.60 mg/L of i-Inositol; 3.02 mg/L of Niacinamide; 3.00 mg/L of Pyridoxal HCL; 0.031 mg/L of Pyridoxine HCL; 0.319 mg/L of Riboflavin; 3.17 mg/L of Thiamine HCL; 0.365 mg/L of Thymidine; and 0.680 mg/L of Vitamin B₁₂; 25 mM of HEPES Buffer; 2.39 mg/L of Na Hypoxanthine; 0.105 mg/L of Lipoic Acid; 0.081 mg/L of Sodium Putrescine-2HCL; 55.0 mg/L of Sodium Pyruvate; 0.0067 mg/L of Sodium Selenite; 20 uM of Ethanolamine; 0.122 mg/L of Ferric Citrate; 41.70 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrin complexed with Linoleic Acid; 33.33 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrin complexed with Oleic Acid; and 10 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrin complexed with Retinal) with 2 mm glutamine and 1× penstrep. (BSA (81-068-3 Bayer) lOOgm dissolved in IL DMEM for a 10% BSA stock solution). Filter the media and collect 50 ul for endotoxin assay in 15 ml polystyrene conical.

[0962] The transfection reaction is terminated, preferably by tag-teaming, at the end of the incubation period. Person A aspirates off the transfection media, while person B adds 1.5 ml appropriate media to each well. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 45 or 72 hours depending on the media used: 1%BSA for 45 hours or CHO-5 for 72 hours.

[0963] On day four, using a 300 ul multichannel pipetter, aliquot 600 ul in one 1 ml deep well plate and the remaining supernatant into a 2 ml deep well. The supernatants from each well can then be used in the assays described in Examples 13-20.

[0964] It is specifically understood that when activity is obtained in any of the assays described below using a supernatant, the activity originates from either the polypeptide directly (e.g., as a secreted protein) or by the polypeptide inducing expression of other proteins, which are then secreted into the supernatant. Thus, the invention further provides a method of identifying the protein in the supernatant characterized by an activity in a particular assay.

Example 12 Construction of GAS Reporter Construct

[0965] One signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiation and proliferation of cells is called the Jaks-STATs pathway. Activated proteins in the Jaks-STATs pathway bind to gamma activation site “GAS” elements or interferon-sensitive responsive element (“ISRE”), located in the promoter of many genes. The binding of a protein to these elements alter the expression of the associated gene.

[0966] GAS and ISRE elements are recognized by a class of transcription factors called Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription, or “STATs.” There are six members of the STATs family. Stat1 and Stat3 are present in many cell types, as is Stat2 (as response to IFN-alpha is widespread). Stat4 is more restricted and is not in many cell types though it has been found in T helper class I, cells after treatment with IL-12. Stat5 was originally called mammary growth factor, but has been found at higher concentrations in other cells including myeloid cells. It can be activated in tissue culture cells by many cytokines.

[0967] The STATs are activated to translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon tyrosine phosphorylation by a set of kinases known as the Janus Kinase (“Jaks”) family. Jaks represent a distinct family of soluble tyrosine kinases and include Tyk2, Jak1, Jak2, and Jak3. These kinases display significant sequence similarity and are generally catalytically inactive in resting cells.

[0968] The Jaks are activated by a wide range of receptors summarized in the Table below. (Adapted from review by Schidler and Darnell, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 64:621-51 (1995).) A cytokine receptor family, capable of activating Jaks, is divided into two groups: (a) Class 1 includes receptors for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, Epo, PRL, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, LIF, CNTF, and thrombopoietin; and (b) Class 2 includes IFN-a, IFN-g, and IL-10. The Class 1 receptors share a conserved cysteine motif (a set of four conserved cysteines and one tryptophan) and a WSXWS motif (a membrane proximal region encoding Trp-Ser-Xxx-Trp-Ser (SEQ ID NO:2)).

[0969] Thus, on binding of a ligand to a receptor, Jaks are activated, which in turn activate STATs, which then translocate and bind to GAS elements. This entire process is encompassed in the Jaks-STATs signal transduction pathway.

[0970] Therefore, activation of the Jaks-STATs pathway, reflected by the binding of the GAS or the ISRE element, can be used to indicate proteins involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. For example, growth factors and cytokines are known to activate the Jaks-STATs pathway. (See Table below.) Thus, by using GAS elements linked to reporter molecules, activators of the Jaks-STATs pathway can be identified. JAKs Ligand tyk2 Jak1 Jak2 Jak3 STATS GAS(elements) or ISRE IFN family IFN-a/B + + − − 1,2,3 ISRE IFN-g + + − 1 GAS (IRF1>Lys6>IFP) Il-10 + ? ? − 1,3 gp13O family IL-6 (Pleiotrophic) + + + ? 1,3 GAS (IRF1>Lys6>IFP) Il-11(Pleiotrophic) ? + ? ? 1,3 OnM(Pleiotrophic) ? + + ? 1,3 LIF(Pleiotrophic) ? + + ? 1,3 CNTF(Pleiotrophic) −/+ + + ? 1,3 G-CSF(Pleiotrophic) ? + ? ? 1,3 IL-12(Pleiotrophic) + − + + 1,3 g-C family IL-2 (lymphocytes) − + − + 1,3,5 GAS IL-4 (lymph/myeloid) − + − + 6 GAS (IRF = IFP >>Ly6)(IgH) IL-7 (lymphocytes) − + − + 5 GAS IL-9 (lymphocytes) − + − + 5 GAS IL-13 (lymphocyte) − + ? ? 6 GAS IL-15 ? + ? + 5 GAS gp140 family IL-3 (myeloid) − − + − 5 GAS (IRF1>IFP>>Ly6) IL-5 (myeloid) − − + − 5 GAS GM-CSF (myeloid) − − + − 5 GAS Growth hormone family GH ? − + − 5 PRL ? +/− + − 1,3,5 EPO ? − + − 5 GAS(B−CAS>IRF1 = IFP >>Ly6) Receptor Tyrosine Kinases EGF ? + + − 1,3 GAS (IRF1) PDGF ? + + − 1,3 CSF-1 ? + + − 1,3 GAS (not IRF1)

[0971] To construct a synthetic GAS containing promoter element, which is used in the Biological Assays described in Examples 13-14, a PCR based strategy is employed to generate a GAS-SV40 promoter sequence. The 5′ primer contains four tandem copies of the GAS binding site found in the IRF1 promoter and previously demonstrated to bind STATs upon induction with a range of cytokines (Rothman et al., Immunity 1:457-468 (1994).), although other GAS or ISRE elements can be used instead. The 5′ primer also contains 18bp of sequence complementary to the SV40 early promoter sequence and is flanked with an XhoI site. The sequence of the 5′ primer is: 5′:GCGCCTCGAGATTTCCCCGAAATCTAGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCC (SEQ ID NO:3) GAAATGATTTCCCCGAAATATCTGCCATCTCAATTAG:3′

[0972] The downstream primer is complementary to the SV40 promoter and is flanked with a Hind III site: 5′:GCGGCAAGCTTTTTGCAAAGCCTAGGC:3′ (SEQ ID NO:4)

[0973] PCR amplification is performed using the SV40 promoter template present in the B-gal:promoter plasmid obtained from Clontech. The resulting PCR fragment is digested with XhoI/Hind III and subcloned into BLSK2-. (Stratagene.) Sequencing with forward and reverse primers confirms that the insert contains the following sequence: 5′:CTCGAGATTTCCCCGAAATCTAGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCCGAAA (SEQ ID NO:5) TGATTTCCCCGAAATATCTGCCATCTCAATTAGTCAGCAACCATAGTCCCG CCCCTAACTCCGCCCATCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCAGTTCCGCCCATTCT CCGCCCCATGGCTGACTAATTTTTTTTATTTATGCAGAGGCCGAGGCCGCC TCGGCCTCTGAGCTATTCCAGAAGTAGTGAGGAGGCTTTTTTGGAGGCCT AGGCTTTTGCAAAAAGCTT:3′

[0974] With this GAS promoter element linked to the SV40 promoter, a GAS:SEAP2 reporter construct is next engineered. Here, the reporter molecule is a secreted alkaline phosphatase, or “SEAP.” Clearly, however, any reporter molecule can be instead of SEAP, in this or in any of the other Examples. Well known reporter molecules that can be used instead of SEAP include chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, B-galactosidase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), or any protein detectable by an antibody.

[0975] The above sequence confirmed synthetic GAS-SV40 promoter element is subcloned into the pSEAP-Promoter vector obtained from Clontech using HindIII and XhoI, effectively replacing the SV40 promoter with the amplified GAS:SV40 promoter element, to create the GAS-SEAP vector. however, this vector does not contain a neomycin resistance gene, and therefore, is not preferred for mammalian expression systems.

[0976] Thus, in order to generate mammalian stable cell lines expressing the GAS-SEAP reporter, the GAS-SEAP cassette is removed from the GAS-SEAP vector using SalI and NotI, and inserted into a backbone vector containing the neomycin resistance gene, such as pGFP-1 (Clontech), using these restriction sites in the multiple cloning site, to create the GAS-SEAP/Neo vector. Once this vector is transfected into mammalian cells, this vector can then be used as a reporter molecule for GAS binding as described in Examples 13-14.

[0977] Other constructs can be made using the above description and replacing GAS with a different promoter sequence. For example, construction of reporter molecules containing NFK-B and EGR promoter sequences are described in Examples 15 and 16. However, many other promoters can be substituted using the protocols described in these Examples. For instance, SRE, IL-2, NFAT, or Osteocalcin promoters can be substituted, alone or in combination (e.g., GAS/NF-KB/EGR, GAS/NF-KB, II-2/NFAT, or NF-KB/GAS). Similarly, other cell lines can be used to test reporter construct activity, such as HELA (epithelial), HUVEC (endothelial), Reh (B-cell), Saos-2 (osteoblast), HUVAC (aortic), or Cardiomyocyte.

Example 13 High-throughput Screening Assay for T-cell Activity

[0978] The following protocol is used to assess T-cell activity by identifying factors, and determining whether supernate containing a polypeptide of the invention proliferates and/or differentiates T-cells. T-cell activity is assessed using the GAS/SEAP/Neo construct produced in Example 12. Thus, factors that increase SEAP activity indicate the ability to activate the Jaks-STATS signal transduction pathway. The T-cell used in this assay is Jurkat T-cells (ATCC Accession No. TIB-152), although Molt-3 cells (ATCC Accession No. CRL-1552) and Molt4 cells (ATCC Accession No. CRL-1582) cells can also be used.

[0979] Jurkat T-cells are lymphoblastic CD4+ ThI helper cells. In order to generate stable cell lines, approximately 2 million Jurkat cells are transfected with the GAS-SEAP/neo vector using DMRIE-C (Life Technologies)(transfection procedure described below). The transfected cells are seeded to a density of approximately 20,000 cells per well and transfectants resistant to 1 mg/ml genticin selected. Resistant colonies are expanded and then tested for their response to increasing concentrations of interferon gamma. The dose response of a selected clone is demonstrated.

[0980] Specifically, the following protocol will yield sufficient cells for 75 wells containing 200 ul of cells. Thus, it is either scaled up, or performed in multiple to generate sufficient cells for multiple 96 well plates. Jurkat cells are maintained in RPMI+10% serum with 1%Pen-Strep. Combine 2.5 mls of OPTI-MEM (Life Technologies) with 10 ug of plasmid DNA in a T25 flask. Add 2.5 ml OPTI-MEM containing 50 ul of DMRIE-C and incubate at room temperature for 1545 mins.

[0981] During the incubation period, count cell concentration, spin down the required number of cells (10⁷ per transfection), and resuspend in OPTI-MEM to a final concentration of 10⁷ cells/ml. Then add 1 ml of 1×10⁷ cells in OPTI-MEM to T25 flask and incubate at 37 degrees C. for 6 hrs. After the incubation, add 10 ml of RPMI+15% serum.

[0982] The Jurkat:GAS-SEAP stable reporter lines are maintained in RPMI+10% serum, 1 mg/ml Genticin, and 1% Pen-Strep. These cells are treated with supernatants containing polypeptides of the invention and/or induced polypeptides of the invention as produced by the protocol described in Example 11.

[0983] On the day of treatment with the supernatant, the cells should be washed and resuspended in fresh RPMI+10% serum to a density of 500,000 cells per ml. The exact number of cells required will depend on the number of supernatants being screened. For one 96 well plate, approximately 10 million cells (for 10 plates, 100 million cells) are required.

[0984] Transfer the cells to a triangular reservoir boat, in order to dispense the cells into a 96 well dish, using a 12 channel pipette. Using a 12 channel pipette, transfer 200 ul of cells into each well (therefore adding 100, 000 cells per well).

[0985] After all the plates have been seeded, 50 ul of the supernatants are transferred directly from the 96 well plate containing the supernatants into each well using a 12 channel pipette. In addition, a dose of exogenous interferon gamma (0.1, 1.0, 10 ng) is added to wells H9, H10, and H11 to serve as additional positive controls for the assay.

[0986] The 96 well dishes containing Jurkat cells treated with supernatants are placed in an incubator for 48 hrs (note: this time is variable between 48-72 hrs). 35 ul samples from each well are then transferred to an opaque 96 well plate using a 12 channel pipette. The opaque plates should be covered (using sellophene covers) and stored at −20 degrees C. until SEAP assays are performed according to Example 17. The plates containing the remaining treated cells are placed at 4 degrees C. and serve as a source of material for repeating the assay on a specific well if desired.

[0987] As a positive control, 100 Unit/ml interferon gamma can be used which is known to activate Jurkat T cells. Over 30 fold induction is typically observed in the positive control wells.

[0988] The above protocol may be used in the generation of both transient, as well as, stable transfected cells, which would be apparent to those of skill in the art.

Example 14 High-throughput Screening Assay Identifying Myeloid Activity

[0989] The following protocol is used to assess myeloid activity by determining whether polypeptides of the invention proliferates and/or differentiates myeloid cells. Myeloid cell activity is assessed using the GAS/SEAP/Neo construct produced in Example 12. Thus, factors that increase SEAP activity indicate the ability to activate the Jaks-STATS signal transduction pathway. The myeloid cell used in this assay is U937, a pre-monocyte cell line, although TF-1, HL60, or KG1 can be used.

[0990] To transiently transfect U937 cells with the GAS/SEAP/Neo construct produced in Example 12, a DEAE-Dextran method (Kharbanda et. al., 1994, Cell Growth & Differentiation, 5:259-265) is used. First, harvest 2×10e⁷ U937 cells and wash with PBS. The U937 cells are usually grown in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 mg/ml streptomycin.

[0991] Next, suspend the cells in 1 ml of 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) buffer containing 0.5 mg/ml DEAE-Dextran, 8 ug GAS-SEAP2 plasmid DNA, 140 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 375 uM Na₂HPO₄.7H₂O, 1 mM MgCl₂, and 675 uM CaCl₂. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 45 min.

[0992] Wash the cells with RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS and then resuspend in 10 ml complete medium and incubate at 37 degrees C. for 36 hr.

[0993] The GAS-SEAP/U937 stable cells are obtained by growing the cells in 400 ug/ml G418. The G418-free medium is used for routine growth but every one to two months, the cells should be re-grown in 400 ug/ml G418 for couple of passages.

[0994] These cells are tested by harvesting 1×10⁸ cells (this is enough for ten 96-well plates assay) and wash with PBS. Suspend the cells in 200 ml above described growth medium, with a final density of 5×10⁵ cells/ml. Plate 200 ul cells per well in the 96-well plate (or 1×10⁵ cells/well).

[0995] Add 50 ul of the supernatant prepared by the protocol described in Example 11. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 48 to 72 hr. As a positive control, 100 Unit/ml interferon gamma can be used which is known to activate U937 cells. Over 30 fold induction is typically observed in the positive control wells. SEAP assay the supernatant according to the protocol described in Example 17.

Example 15 High-throughput Screening Assay Identifying Neuronal Activity

[0996] When cells undergo differentiation and proliferation, a group of genes are activated through many different signal transduction pathways. One of these genes, EGR1 (early growth response gene 1), is induced in various tissues and cell types upon activation. The promoter of EGR1 is responsible for such induction. Using the EGR1 promoter linked to reporter molecules, activation of cells can be assessed.

[0997] Particularly, the following protocol is used to assess neuronal activity in PC12 cell lines. PC12 cells (rat phenochromocytoma cells) are known to proliferate and/or differentiate by activation with a number of mitogens, such as TPA (tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate), NGF (nerve growth factor), and EGF (epidermal growth factor). The EGR1 gene expression is activated during this treatment. Thus, by stably transfecting PC12 cells with a construct containing an EGR promoter linked to SEAP reporter, activation of PC12 cells can be assessed.

[0998] The EGRISEAP reporter construct can be assembled by the following protocol. The EGR-1 promoter sequence (−633 to +1)(Sakamoto K et al., Oncogene 6:867-871 (1991)) can be PCR amplified from human genomic DNA using the following primers: 5′ GCGCTCGAGGGATGACAGCGATAGAACCCCGG -3′ (SEQ ID NO:6) 5′ GCGAAGCTTCGCGACTCCCCGGATCCGCCTC -3′ (SEQ ID NO:7)

[0999] Using the GAS:SEAP/Neo vector produced in Example 12, EGR1 amplified product can then be inserted into this vector. Linearize the GAS:SEAP/Neo vector using restriction enzymes XhoI/HindIII, removing the GAS/SV40 stuffer. Restrict the EGR1 amplified product with these same enzymes. Ligate the vector and the EGR1 promoter.

[1000] To prepare 96 well-plates for cell culture, two mls of a coating solution (1:30 dilution of collagen type I (Upstate Biotech Inc. Cat#08-115) in 30% ethanol (filter sterilized)) is added per one 10 cm plate or 50 ml per well of the 96-well plate, and allowed to air dry for 2 hr.

[1001] PC12 cells are routinely grown in RPMI-1640 medium (Bio Whittaker) containing 10% horse serum (JRH BIOSCIENCES, Cat. # 12449-78P), 5% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 ug/ml streptomycin on a precoated 10 cm tissue culture dish. One to four split is done every three to four days. Cells are removed from the plates by scraping and resuspended with pipetting up and down for more than 15 times.

[1002] Transfect the EGR/SEAP/Neo construct into PC12 using the Lipofectamine protocol described in Example 11. EGR-SEAP/PC12 stable cells are obtained by growing the cells in 300 ug/ml G418. The G418-free medium is used for routine growth but every one to two months, the cells should be re-grown in 300 ug/ml G418 for couple of passages.

[1003] To assay for neuronal activity, a 10 cm plate with cells around 70 to 80% confluent is screened by removing the old medium. Wash the cells once with PBS (Phosphate buffered saline). Then starve the cells in low serum medium (RPMI-1640 containing 1% horse serum and 0.5% FBS with antibiotics) overnight.

[1004] The next morning, remove the medium and wash the cells with PBS. Scrape off the cells from the plate, suspend the cells well in 2 ml low serum medium. Count the cell number and add more low serum medium to reach final cell density as 5×10⁵ cells/ml.

[1005] Add 200 ul of the cell suspension to each well of 96-well plate (equivalent to 1×10⁵ cells/well). Add 50 ul supernatant produced by Example 11, 37° C. for 48 to 72 hr. As a positive control, a growth factor known to activate PC12 cells through EGR can be used, such as 50 ng/ul of Neuronal Growth Factor (NGF). Over fifty-fold induction of SEAP is typically seen in the positive control wells. SEAP assay the supernatant according to Example 17.

Example 16 High-throughput Screening Assay for T-cell Activity

[1006] NF-KB (Nuclear Factor KB) is a transcription factor activated by a wide variety of agents including the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF, CD30 and CD40, lymphotoxin-alpha and lymphotoxin-beta, by exposure to LPS or thrombin, and by expression of certain viral gene products. As a transcription factor, NF-KB regulates the expression of genes involved in immune cell activation, control of apoptosis (NF-KB appears to shield cells from apoptosis), B and T-cell development, anti-viral and antimicrobial responses, and multiple stress responses.

[1007] In non-stimulated conditions, NF-KB is retained in the cytoplasm with I-KB (Inhibitor KB). However, upon stimulation, I-KB is phosphorylated and degraded, causing NF-KB to shuttle to the nucleus, thereby activating transcription of target genes. Target genes activated by NF-KB include IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF, ICAM-1 and class 1 MHC.

[1008] Due to its central role and ability to respond to a range of stimuli, reporter constructs utilizing the NF-KB promoter element are used to screen the supernatants produced in Example 11. Activators or inhibitors of NF-KB would be useful in treating diseases. For example, inhibitors of NF-KB could be used to treat those diseases related to the acute or chronic activation of NF-KB, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

[1009] To construct a vector containing the NF-KB promoter element, a PCR based strategy is employed. The upstream primer contains four tandem copies of the NF-KB binding site (GGGGACTTTCCC) (SEQ ID NO:8), 18 bp of sequence complementary to the 5′ end of the SV40 early promoter sequence, and is flanked with an XhoI site: 5′:GCGGCCTCGAGGGGACTTTCCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGAC (SEQ ID NO:9) TTTCCATCCTGCCATCTCAATTAG:3′

[1010] The downstream primer is complementary to the 3′ end of the SV40 promoter and is flanked with a Hind III site: 5′:GCGGCAAGCTTTTTGCAAAGCCTAGGC:3′ (SEQ ID NO:4)

[1011] PCR amplification is performed using the SV40 promoter template present in the pB-gal:promoter plasmid obtained from Clontech. The resulting PCR fragment is digested with XhoI and Hind III and subcloned into BLSK2-. (Stratagene) Sequencing with the T7 and T3 primers confirms the insert contains the following sequence: 5′:CTCGAGGGGACTTTCCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGACTTTCC (SEQ ID NO:10) ATCTGCCATCTCAATTAGTCAGCAACCATAGTCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCC ATCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCAGTTCCGCCCATTCTCCGCCCCATGGCTGA CTAATTTTTTTTATTTATGCAGAGGCCGAGGCCGCCTCGGCCTCTGAGCTA TTCCAGAAGTAGTGAGGAGGCTTTTTTGGAGGCCTAGGCTTTTGCAAAAA GCTT:3′

[1012] Next, replace the SV40 minimal promoter element present in the pSEAP2-promoter plasmid (Clontech) with this NF-KBISV40 fragment using XhoI and HindIII. However, this vector does not contain a neomycin resistance gene, and therefore, is not preferred for mammalian expression systems.

[1013] In order to generate stable mammalian cell lines, the NF-KB/SV40/SEAP cassette is removed from the above NF-KB/SEAP vector using restriction enzymes SalI and NotI, and inserted into a vector containing neomycin resistance. Particularly, the NF-KB/SV40/SEAP cassette was inserted into pGFP-1 (Clontech), replacing the GFP gene, after restricting pGFP-1 with SalI and NotI.

[1014] Once NF-KB/SV40/SEAP/Neo vector is created, stable Jurkat T-cells are created and maintained according to the protocol described in Example 13. Similarly, the method for assaying supernatants with these stable Jurkat T-cells is also described in Example 13. As a positive control, exogenous TNF alpha (0.1,1, 10 ng) is added to wells H9, H10, and H11, with a 5-10 fold activation typically observed.

Example 17 Assay for SEAP Activity

[1015] As a reporter molecule for the assays described in Examples 13-16, SEAP activity is assayed using the Tropix Phospho-light Kit (Cat. BP-400) according to the following general procedure. The Tropix Phospho-light Kit supplies the Dilution, Assay, and Reaction Buffers used below. Prime a dispenser with the 2.5× Dilution Buffer and dispense 15 ul of 2.5× dilution buffer into Optiplates containing 35 ul of a supernatant. Seal the plates with a plastic sealer and incubate at 65 degree C. for 30 min. Separate the Optiplates to avoid uneven heating.

[1016] Cool the samples to room temperature for 15 minutes. Empty the dispenser and prime with the Assay Buffer. Add 50 ml Assay Buffer and incubate at room temperature 5 min. Empty the dispenser and prime with the Reaction Buffer (see the table below). Add 50 ul Reaction Buffer and incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes. Since the intensity of the chemiluminescent signal is time dependent, and it takes about 10 minutes to read 5 plates on luminometer, one should treat 5 plates at each time and start the second set 10 minutes later.

[1017] Read the relative light unit in the luminometer. Set H12 as blank, and print the results. An increase in chemiluminescence indicates reporter activity. Reaction Buffer Formulation: # of plates Rxn buffer diluent (ml) CSPD (ml) 10 60 3 11 65 3.25 12 70 3.5 13 75 3.75 14 80 4 15 85 4.25 16 90 4.5 17 95 4.75 18 100 5 19 105 5.25 20 110 5.5 21 115 5.75 22 120 6 23 125 6.25 24 130 6.5 25 135 6.75 26 140 7 27 145 7.25 28 150 7.5 29 155 7.75 30 160 8 31 165 8.25 32 170 8.5 33 175 8.75 34 180 9 35 185 9.25 36 190 9.5 37 195 9.75 38 200 10 39 205 10.25 40 210 10.5 41 215 10.75 42 220 11 43 225 11.25 44 230 11.5 45 235 11.75 46 240 12 47 245 12.25 48 250 12.5 49 255 12.75 50 260 13

Example 18 High-throughput Screening Assay Identifying Changes in Small Molecule Concentration and Membrane Permeability

[1018] Binding of a ligand to a receptor is known to alter intracellular levels of small molecules, such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and pH, as well as alter membrane potential. These alterations can be measured in an assay to identify supernatants which bind to receptors of a particular cell. Although the following protocol describes an assay for calcium, this protocol can easily be modified to detect changes in potassium, sodium, pH, membrane potential, or any other small molecule which is detectable by a fluorescent probe.

[1019] The following assay uses Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader (“FLIPR”) to measure changes in fluorescent molecules (Molecular Probes) that bind small molecules. Clearly, any fluorescent molecule detecting a small molecule can be used instead of the calcium fluorescent molecule, fluo4 (Molecular Probes, Inc.; catalog no. F-14202), used here.

[1020] For adherent cells, seed the cells at 10,000-20,000 cells/well in a Co-star black 96-well plate with clear bottom. The plate is incubated in a CO₂ incubator for 20 hours. The adherent cells are washed two times in Biotek washer with 200 ul of HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution) leaving 100 ul of buffer after the final wash.

[1021] A stock solution of 1 mg/ml fluo4 is made in 10% pluronic acid DMSO. To load the cells with fluo-4, 50 ul of 12 ug/ml fluo4 is added to each well. The plate is incubated at 37 degrees C. in a CO₂ incubator for 60 min. The plate is washed four times in the Biotek washer with HBSS leaving 100 ul of buffer.

[1022] For non-adherent cells, the cells are spun down from culture media. Cells are re-suspended to 2-5×10⁶ cells/ml with HBSS in a 50-ml conical tube. 4 ul of 1 mg/ml fluo-4 solution in 10% pluronic acid DMSO is added to each ml of cell suspension. The tube is then placed in a 37 degrees C. water bath for 30-60 min. The cells are washed twice with HBSS, resuspended to 1×10⁶ cells/ml, and dispensed into a microplate, 100 ul/well. The plate is centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 5 min. The plate is then washed once in Denley CellWash with 200 ul, followed by an aspiration step to 100 ul final volume.

[1023] For a non-cell based assay, each well contains a fluorescent molecule, such as fluo-4. The supernatant is added to the well, and a change in fluorescence is detected.

[1024] To measure the fluorescence of intracellular calcium, the FLIPR is set for the following parameters: (1) System gain is 300-800 mW; (2) Exposure time is 0.4 second; (3) Camera F/stop is F/2; (4) Excitation is 488 nm; (5) Emission is 530 nm; and (6) Sample addition is 50 ul. Increased emission at 530 nm indicates an extracellular signaling event which has resulted in an increase in the intracellular Ca++ concentration.

Example 19 High-throughput Screening Assay Identifying Tyrosine Kinase Activity

[1025] The Protein Tyrosine Kinases (PTK) represent a diverse group of transmembrane and cytoplasmic kinases. Within the Receptor Protein Tyrosine Kinase RPTK) group are receptors for a range of mitogenic and metabolic growth factors including the PDGF, FGF, EGF, NGF, HGF and Insulin receptor subfamilies. In addition there are a large family of RPTKs for which the corresponding ligand is unknown. Ligands for RPTKs include mainly secreted small proteins, but also membrane-bound and extracellular matrix proteins.

[1026] Activation of RPTK by ligands involves ligand-mediated receptor dimerization, resulting in transphosphorylation of the receptor subunits and activation of the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases. The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases include receptor associated tyrosine kinases of the src-family (e.g., src, yes, Ick, lyn, fyn) and non-receptor linked and cytosolic protein tyrosine kinases, such as the Jak family, members of which mediate signal transduction triggered by the cytokine superfamily of receptors (e.g., the Interleukins, Interferons, GM-CSF, and Leptin).

[1027] Because of the wide range of known factors capable of stimulating tyrosine kinase activity, the identification of novel human secreted proteins capable of activating tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways are of interest. Therefore, the following protocol is designed to identify those novel human secreted proteins capable of activating the tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways.

[1028] Seed target cells (e.g., primary keratinocytes) at a density of approximately 25,000 cells per well in a 96 well Loprodyne Silent Screen Plates purchased from Nalge Nunc (Naperville, Ill.). The plates are sterilized with two 30 minute rinses with 100% ethanol, rinsed with water and dried overnight. Some plates are coated for 2 hr with 100 ml of cell culture grade type I collagen (50 mg/ml), gelatin (2%) or polylysine (50 mg/ml), all of which can be purchased from Sigma Chemicals (St. Louis, Mo.) or 10% Matrigel purchased from Becton Dickinson (Bedford, Mass.), or calf serum, rinsed with PBS and stored at 4 degree C. Cell growth on these plates is assayed by seeding 5,000 cells/well in growth medium and indirect quantitation of cell number through use of alamarBlue as described by the manufacturer Alamar Biosciences, Inc. (Sacramento, Calif.) after 48 hr. Falcon plate covers #3071 from Becton Dickinson (Bedford, Mass.) are used to cover the Loprodyne Silent Screen Plates. Falcon Microtest III cell culture plates can also be used in some proliferation experiments.

[1029] To prepare extracts, A431 cells are seeded onto the nylon membranes of Loprodyne plates (20,000/200 ml/well) and cultured overnight in complete medium. Cells are quiesced by incubation in serum-free basal medium for 24 hr. After 5-20 minutes treatment with EGF (60 ng/ml) or 50 ul of the supernatant produced in Example 11, the medium was removed and 100 ml of extraction buffer ((20 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 0.15 M NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.1% SDS, 2 mM Na3VO4, 2 mM Na4P207 and a cocktail of protease inhibitors (# 1836170) obtained from Boeheringer Mannheim (Indianapolis, Ind.) is added to each well and the plate is shaken on a rotating shaker for 5 minutes at 4 degrees C. The plate is then placed in a vacuum transfer manifold and the extract filtered through the 0.45 mm membrane bottoms of each well using house vacuum. Extracts are collected in a 96-well catch/assay plate in the bottom of the vacuum manifold and immediately placed on ice. To obtain extracts clarified by centrifugation, the content of each well, after detergent solubilization for 5 minutes, is removed and centrifuged for 15 minutes at 4 degrees C. at 16,000× g.

[1030] Test the filtered extracts for levels of tyrosine kinase activity. Although many methods of detecting tyrosine kinase activity are known, one method is described here.

[1031] Generally, the tyrosine kinase activity of a supernatant is evaluated by determining its ability to phosphorylate a tyrosine residue on a specific substrate (a biotinylated peptide). Biotinylated peptides that can be used for this purpose include PSKI (corresponding to amino acids 6-20 of the cell division kinase cdc2-p34) and PSK2 (corresponding to amino acids 1-17 of gastrin). Both peptides are substrates for a range of tyrosine kinases and are available from Boehringer Mannheim.

[1032] The tyrosine kinase reaction is set up by adding the following components in order. First, add 10 ul of SuM Biotinylated Peptide, then 10 ul ATP/Mg₂₊ (5 mM ATP/50 mM MgCl₂), then 10 ul of 5× Assay Buffer (40 mM imidazole hydrochloride, pH7.3, 40 mM beta-glycerophosphate, 1 mM EGTA, 100 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM MnCl₂, 0.5 mg/ml BSA), then 5 ul of Sodium Vanadate(1 mM), and then 5 ul of water. Mix the components gently and preincubate the reaction mix at 30 degrees C. for 2 min. Initial the reaction by adding 10 ul of the control enzyme or the filtered supernatant. The tyrosine kinase assay reaction is then terminated by adding 10 ul of 120 mm EDTA and place the reactions on ice.

[1033] Tyrosine kinase activity is determined by transferring 50 ul aliquot of reaction mixture to a microtiter plate (MTP) module and incubating at 37 degrees C. for 20 min. This allows the streptavadin coated 96 well plate to associate with the biotinylated peptide. Wash the MTP module with 300 ul/well of PBS four times.

[1034] Next add 75 ul of anti-phospotyrosine antibody conjugated to horse radish peroxidase(anti-P-Tyr-POD(0.5 u/ml)) to each well and incubate at 37 degrees C. for one hour. Wash the well as above. Next add 100 ul of peroxidase substrate solution (Boehringer Mannheim) and incubate at room temperature for at least 5 mins (up to 30 min). Measure the absorbance of the sample at 405 nm by using ELISA reader. The level of bound peroxidase activity is quantitated using an ELISA reader and reflects the level of tyrosine kinase activity.

Example 20 High-throughput Screening Assay Identifying Phosphorylation Activity

[1035] As a potential alternative and/or compliment to the assay of protein tyrosine kinase activity described in Example 19, an assay which detects activation (phosphorylation) of major intracellular signal transduction intermediates can also be used. For example, as described below one particular assay can detect tyrosine phosphorylation of the Erk-1 and Erk-2 kinases. However, phosphorylation of other molecules, such as Raf, JNK, p38 MAP, Map kinase kinase (MEK), MEK kinase, Src, Muscle specific kinase (MuSK), IRAK, Tec, and Janus, as well as any other phosphoserine, phosphotyrosine, or phosphothreonine molecule, can be detected by substituting these molecules for Erk-1 or Erk-2 in the following assay.

[1036] Specifically, assay plates are made by coating the wells of a 96-well ELISA plate with 0.1 ml of protein G (1 ug/ml) for 2 hr at room temp, (RT). The plates are then rinsed with PBS and blocked with 3% BSA/PBS for 1 hr at RT. The protein G plates are then treated with 2 commercial monoclonal antibodies (100 ng/well) against Erk-1 and Erk-2 (1 hr at RT) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). (To detect other molecules, this step can easily be modified by substituting a monoclonal antibody detecting any of the above described molecules.) After 3-5 rinses with PBS, the plates are stored at 4 degrees C. until use.

[1037] A431 cells are seeded at 20,000/well in a 96-well Loprodyne filterplate and cultured overnight in growth medium. The cells are then starved for 48 hr in basal medium (DMEM) and then treated with EGF (6 ng/well) or 50 ul of the supernatants obtained in Example 11 for 5-20 minutes. The cells are then solubilized and extracts filtered directly into the assay plate.

[1038] After incubation with the extract for 1 hr at RT, the wells are again rinsed. As a positive control, a commercial preparation of MAP kinase (10 ng/well) is used in place of A431 extract. Plates are then treated with a commercial polyclonal (rabbit) antibody (lug/ml) which specifically recognizes the phosphorylated epitope of the Erk-1 and Erk-2 kinases (1 hr at RT). This antibody is biotinylated by standard procedures. The bound polyclonal antibody is then quantitated by successive incubations with Europium-streptavidin and Europium fluorescence enhancing reagent in the Wallac DELFIA instrument (time-resolved fluorescence). An increased fluorescent signal over background indicates a phosphorylation.

Example 21 Method of Determining Alterations in a Gene Corresponding to a Polynucleotide

[1039] RNA isolated from entire families or individual patients presenting with a phenotype of interest (such as a disease) is be isolated. cDNA is then generated from these RNA samples using protocols known in the art. (See, Sambrook.) The cDNA is then used as a template for PCR, employing primers surrounding regions of interest in SEQ ID NO:X. Suggested PCR conditions consist of 35 cycles at 95 degrees C. for 30 seconds; 60-120 seconds at 52-58 degrees C.; and 60-120 seconds at 70 degrees C., using buffer solutions described in Sidransky et al., Science 252:706 (1991).

[1040] PCR products are then sequenced using primers labeled at their 5′ end with T4 polynucleotide kinase, employing SequiTherm Polymerase. (Epicentre Technologies). The intron-exon borders of selected exons is also determined and genomic PCR products analyzed to confirm the results. PCR products harboring suspected mutations is then cloned and sequenced to validate the results of the direct sequencing.

[1041] PCR products is cloned into T-tailed vectors as described in Holton et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 19:1156 (1991) and sequenced with T7 polymerase (United States Biochemical). Affected individuals are identified by mutations not present in unaffected individuals.

[1042] Genomic rearrangements are also observed as a method of determining alterations in a gene corresponding to a polynucleotide. Genomic clones isolated according to Example 2 are nick-translated with digoxigenindeoxy-uridine 5′-triphosphate (Boehringer Manheim), and FISH performed as described in Johnson et al., Methods Cell Biol. 35:73-99 (1991). Hybridization with the labeled probe is carried out using a vast excess of human cot-I DNA for specific hybridization to the corresponding genomic locus.

[1043] Chromosomes are counterstained with 4,6-diamino-2-phenylidole and propidium iodide, producing a combination of C- and R-bands. Aligned images for precise mapping are obtained using a triple-band filter set (Chroma Technology, Brattleboro, Vt.) in combination with a cooled charge-coupled device camera (Photometrics, Tucson, Aria.) and variable excitation wavelength filters. (Johnson et al., Genet. Anal. Tech. Appi., 8:75 (1991).) Image collection, analysis and chromosomal fractional length measurements are performed using the ISee Graphical Program System. (Inovision Corporation, Durham, N.C.) Chromosome alterations of the genomic region hybridized by the probe are identified as insertions, deletions, and translocations. These alterations are used as a diagnostic marker for an associated disease.

Example 22 Method of Detecting Abnormal Levels of a Polypeptide in a Biological Sample

[1044] A polypeptide of the present invention can be detected in a biological sample, and if an increased or decreased level of the polypeptide is detected, this polypeptide is a marker for a particular phenotype. Methods of detection are numerous, and thus, it is understood that one skilled in the art can modify the following assay to fit their particular needs.

[1045] For example, antibody-sandwich ELISAs are used to detect polypeptides in a sample, preferably a biological sample. Wells of a microtiter plate are coated with specific antibodies, at a final concentration of 0.2 to 10 ug/ml. The antibodies are either monoclonal or polyclonal and are produced by the method described in Example 10. The wells are blocked so that non-specific binding of the polypeptide to the well is reduced.

[1046] The coated wells are then incubated for >2 hours at RT with a sample containing the polypeptide. Preferably, serial dilutions of the sample should be used to validate results. The plates are then washed three times with deionized or distilled water to remove unbounded polypeptide.

[1047] Next, 50 ul of specific antibody-alkaline phosphatase conjugate, at a concentration of 25-400 ng, is added and incubated for 2 hours at room temperature. The plates are again washed three times with deionized or distilled water to remove unbounded conjugate.

[1048] Add 75 ul of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP) or p-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) substrate solution to each well and incubate 1 hour at room temperature. Measure the reaction by a microtiter plate reader. Prepare a standard curve, using serial dilutions of a control sample, and plot polypeptide concentration on the X-axis (log scale) and fluorescence or absorbance of the Y-axis (linear scale). Interpolate the concentration of the polypeptide in the sample using the standard curve.

Example 23 Formulation

[1049] The invention also provides methods of treatment and/or prevention diseases, disorders, and/or conditions (such as, for example, any one or more of the diseases or disorders disclosed herein) by administration to a subject of an effective amount of a Therapeutic. By therapeutic is meant a polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention (including fragments and variants), agonists or antagonists thereof, and/or antibodies thereto, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier type (e.g., a sterile carrier).

[1050] The Therapeutic will be formulated and dosed in a fashion consistent with good medical practice, taking into account the clinical condition of the individual patient (especially the side effects of treatment with the Therapeutic alone), the site of delivery, the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factors known to practitioners. The “effective amount” for purposes herein is thus determined by such considerations.

[1051] As a general proposition, the total pharmaceutically effective amount of the Therapeutic administered parenterally per dose will be in the range of about lug/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day of patient body weight, although, as noted above, this will be subject to therapeutic discretion. More preferably, this dose is at least 0.01 mg/kg/day, and most preferably for humans between about 0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day for the hormone. If given continuously, the Therapeutic is typically administered at a dose rate of about 1 ug/kg/hour to about 50 ug/kg/hour, either by 1-4 injections per day or by continuous subcutaneous infusions, for example, using a mini-pump. An intravenous bag solution may also be employed. The length of treatment needed to observe changes and the interval following treatment for responses to occur appears to vary depending on the desired effect.

[1052] Therapeutics can be are administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracistemally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any. The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.

[1053] Therapeutics of the invention are also suitably administered by sustained-release systems. Suitable examples of sustained-release Therapeutics are administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracistemally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any type. The term “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration which include intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.

[1054] Therapeutics of the invention are also suitably administered by sustained-release systems. Suitable examples of sustained-release Therapeutics include suitable polymeric materials (such as, for example, semi-permeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g., films, or mirocapsules), suitable hydrophobic materials (for example as an emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, and sparingly soluble derivatives (such as, for example, a sparingly soluble salt).

[1055] Sustained-release matrices include polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and gamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547-556 (1983)), poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 15:167-277 (1981), and Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., Id.) or poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988).

[1056] Sustained-release Therapeutics also include liposomally entrapped Therapeutics of the invention (see generally, Langer, Science 249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp. 317-327 and 353-365 (1989)). Liposomes containing the Therapeutic are prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.(USA) 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, the liposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which the lipid content is greater than about 30 mol. percent cholesterol, the selected proportion being adjusted for the optimal Therapeutic.

[1057] In yet an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are delivered by way of a pump (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)).

[1058] Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

[1059] For parenteral administration, in one embodiment, the Therapeutic is formulated generally by mixing it at the desired degree of purity, in a unit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion), with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, i.e., one that is non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatible with other ingredients of the formulation. For example, the formulation preferably does not include oxidizing agents and other compounds that are known to be deleterious to the Therapeutic.

[1060] Generally, the formulations are prepared by contacting the Therapeutic uniformly and intimately with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both. Then, if necessary, the product is shaped into the desired formulation. Preferably the carrier is a parenteral carrier, more preferably a solution that is isotonic with the blood of the recipient. Examples of such carrier vehicles include water, saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution. Non-aqueous vehicles such as fixed oils and ethyl oleate are also useful herein, as well as liposomes.

[1061] The carrier suitably contains minor amounts of additives such as substances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Such materials are non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrations employed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, succinate, acetic acid, and other organic acids or their salts; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about ten residues) polypeptides, e.g., polyarginine or tripeptides; proteins, such as serum albumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including cellulose or its derivatives, glucose, manose, or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such as mannitol or sorbitol; counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates, poloxamers, or PEG.

[1062] The Therapeutic is typically formulated in such vehicles at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml, preferably 1-10 mg/ml, at a pH of about 3 to 8. It will be understood that the use of certain of the foregoing excipients, carriers, or stabilizers will result in the formation of polypeptide salts.

[1063] Any pharmaceutical used for therapeutic administration can be sterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterile filtration membranes (e.g., 0.2 micron membranes). Therapeutics generally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, for example, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

[1064] Therapeutics ordinarily will be stored in unit or multi-dose containers, for example, sealed ampoules or vials, as an aqueous solution or as a lyophilized formulation for reconstitution. As an example of a lyophilized formulation, 10-ml vials are filled with 5 ml of sterile-filtered 1% (w/v) aqueous Therapeutic solution, and the resulting mixture is lyophilized. The infusion solution is prepared by reconstituting the lyophilized Therapeutic using bacteriostatic Water-for-Injection.

[1065] The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of the Therapeutics of the invention. Associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, the Therapeutics may be employed in conjunction with other therapeutic compounds.

[1066] The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with adjuvants. Adjuvants that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, alum, alum plus deoxycholate (ImmunoAg), MTP-PE (Biocine Corp.), QS21 (Genentech, Inc.), BCG, and MPL. In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with alum. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with QS-21. Further adjuvants that may be administered with the-Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, Monophosphoryl lipid immunomodulator, AdjuVax 100a, QS-21, QS-18, CRL1005, Aluminum salts, MF-59, and Virosomal adjuvant technology. Vaccines that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, vaccines directed toward protection against MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio, varicella, tetanus/diptheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae B, whooping cough, pneumonia, influenza, Lyme's Disease, rotavirus, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, poliomyelitis, rabies, typhoid fever, and pertussis. Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also procedures in which the combined agents are administered separately but simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into the same individual. Administration “in combination” further includes the separate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first, followed by the second.

[1067] The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. Therapeutic agents that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include but not limited to, other members of the TNF family, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics, steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, conventional immunotherapeutic agents, cytokines and/or growth factors. Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also procedures in which the combined agents are administered separately but simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into the same individual. Administration “in combination” further includes the separate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first, followed by the second.

[1068] In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with members of the TNF family. TNF, TNF-related or TNF-like molecules that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, soluble forms of TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha, also known as TNF-beta), LT-beta (found in complex heterotrimer LT-alpha2-beta), OPGL, FasL, CD27L, CD30L, CD40L, 4-1BBL, DcR3, OX40L, TNF-gamma (International Publication No. WO 96/14328), AIM-I (International Publication No. WO 97/33899), endokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/07880), TR6 (International Publication No. WO 98/30694), OPG, and neutrokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/18921, OX40, and nerve growth factor (NGF), and soluble forms of Fas, CD30, CD27, CD40 and 4-IBB, TR2 (International Publication No. WO 96/34095), DR3 (International Publication No. WO 97/33904), DR4 (International Publication No. WO 98/32856), TR5 (International Publication No. WO 98/30693), TR6 (International Publication No. WO 98/30694), TR7 (International Publication No. WO 98/41629), TRANK, TR9 (International Publication No. WO 98/56892),TR10 (International Publication No. WO 98/54202), 312C2 (International Publication No. WO 98/06842), and TR12, and soluble forms CD154, CD70, and CD153.

[1069] In certain embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with antiretroviral agents, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and/or protease inhibitors. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to, RETROVIR™ (zidovudine/AZT), VIDEX™ (didanosine/ddl), HIVID™ (zalcitabine/ddC), ZERIT™ (stavudine/d4T), EPIVIR™ (lamivudine/3TC), and COMBIVIR™ (zidovudine/lamivudine). Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to, VIRAMUNE™ (nevirapine), RESCRIPTOR™ (delavirdine), and SUSTIVA™ (efavirenz). Protease inhibitors that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to, CRIXIVAN™ (indinavir), NORVIR™ (ritonavir), INVIRASE™ (saquinavir), and VIRACEPT™ (nelfinavir). In a specific embodiment, antiretroviral agents, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and/or protease inhibitors may be used in any combination with Therapeutics of the invention to treat AIDS and/or to prevent or treat HIV infection.

[1070] In other embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention may be administered in combination with anti-opportunistic infection agents. Anti-opportunistic agents that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to, TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, ATOVAQUONE™, ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, ETHAMBUTOL™, RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™, AZITHROMYCIN™, GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, CIDOFOVIR™, FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, KETOCONAZOLE™, ACYCLOVIR™, FAMCICOLVIR™, PYRIMETHAMINE™, LEUCOVORIN™, NEUPOGEN™ (filgrastim/G-CSF), and LEUKINE™ (sargramostim/GM-CSF). In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, and/or ATOVAQUONE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, and/or ETHAMBUTOL™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium avium complex infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™, and/or AZITHROMYCIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, and/or CIDOFOVIR™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, and/or KETOCONAZOLE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic fungal infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with ACYCLOVIR™ and/or FAMCICOLVIR™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic herpes simplex virus type I and/or type II infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with PYRIMETHAMINE™ and/or LEUCOVORIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Toxoplasma gondii infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination with LEUCOVORIN™ and/or NEUPOGEN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic bacterial infection.

[1071] In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with an antiviral agent. Antiviral agents that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, acyclovir, ribavirin, amantadine, and remantidine.

[1072] In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with an antibiotic agent. Antibiotic agents that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, amoxicillin, beta-lactamases, aminoglycosides, beta-lactam (glycopeptide), beta-lactamases, Clindamycin, chloramphenicol, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, metronidazole, penicillins, quinolones, rifampin, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracyclines, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamthoxazole, and vancomycin.

[1073] Conventional nonspecific immunosuppressive agents, that may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, steroids, cyclosporine, cyclosporine analogs, cyclophosphamide methylprednisone, prednisone, azathioprine, FK-506, 15-deoxyspergualin, and other immunosuppressive agents that act by suppressing the function of responding T cells.

[1074] In specific embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants preparations that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, ORTHOCLONE™ (OKT3), SANDIMMUNE™/NEORAL™/SANGDYA™ (cyclosporin), PROGRAF™ (tacrolimus), CELLCEPT™ (mycophenolate), Azathioprine, glucorticosteroids, and RAPAMUNE™ (sirolimus). In a specific embodiment, immunosuppressants may be used to prevent rejection of organ or bone marrow transplantation.

[1075] In an additional embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered alone or in combination with one or more intravenous immune globulin preparations. Intravenous immune globulin preparations that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but not limited to, GAMMAR™, IVEEGAM™, SANDOGLOBULIN™, GAMMAGARD SID™, and GAMIMUNE™. In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with intravenous immune globulin preparations in transplantation therapy (e.g., bone marrow transplant).

[1076] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered alone or in combination with an anti-inflammatory agent. Anti-inflammatory agents that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, glucocorticoids and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, aminoarylcarboxylic acid derivatives, arylacetic acid derivatives, arylbutyric acid derivatives, arylcarboxylic acids, arylpropionic acid derivatives, pyrazoles, pyrazolones, salicylic acid derivatives, thiazinecarboxamides, e-acetamidocaproic acid, S-adenosylmethionine, 3-amino-4-hydroxybutyric acid, amixetrine, bendazac, benzydamine, bucolome, difenpiramide, ditazol, emorfazone, guaiazulene, nabumetone, nimesulide, orgotein, oxaceprol, paranyline, perisoxal, pifoxime, proquazone, proxazole, and tenidap.

[1077] In another embodiment, compostions of the invention are administered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. Chemotherapeutic agents that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, antibiotic derivatives (e.g., doxorubicin, bleomycin, daunorubicin, and dactinomycin); antiestrogens (e.g., tamoxifen); antimetabolites (e.g., fluorouracil, 5-FU, methotrexate, floxuridine, interferon alpha-2b, glutamic acid, plicamycin, mercaptopurine, and 6-thioguanine); cytotoxic agents (e.g., carmustine, BCNU, lomustine, CCNU, cytosine arabinoside, cyclophosphamide, estramustine, hydroxyurea, procarbazine, mitomycin, busulfan, cis-platin, and vincristine sulfate); hormones (e.g., medroxyprogesterone, estramustine phosphate sodium, ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, megestrol acetate, methyltestosterone, diethylstilbestrol diphosphate, chlorotrianisene, and testolactone); nitrogen mustard derivatives (e.g., mephalen, chorambucil, mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard) and thiotepa); steroids and combinations (e.g., bethamethasone sodium phosphate); and others (e.g., dicarbazine, asparaginase, mitotane, vincristine sulfate, vinblastine sulfate, and etoposide).

[1078] In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or any combination of the components of CHOP. In another embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with Rituximab. In a further embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered with Rituxmab and CHOP, or Rituxmab and any combination of the components of CHOP.

[1079] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with cytokines. Cytokines that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL12, IL13, IL15, anti-CD40, CD40L, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In another embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention may be administered with any interleukin, including, but not limited to, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, and IL-21.

[1080] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with angiogenic proteins. Angiogenic proteins that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, Glioma Derived Growth Factor (GDGF), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-399816; Platelet Derived Growth Factor-A (PDGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-682110; Platelet Derived Growth Factor-B (PDGF-B), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-282317; Placental Growth Factor (PIGF), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 92/06194; Placental Growth Factor-2 (PIGF-2), as disclosed in Hauser et al., Gorwth Factors, 4:259-268 (1993); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 90/13649; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-506477; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 (VEGF-2), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 96/39515; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B (VEGF-3); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B-186 (VEGF-B186), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 96/26736; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 98/02543; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO 98/07832; and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-E (VEGF-E), as disclosed in German Patent Number DE19639601. The above mentioned references are incorporated herein by reference herein.

[1081] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with hematopoietic growth factors. Hematopoietic growth factors that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, LEUKINE™ (SARGRAMOSTIM™) and NEUPOGEN™ (FILGRASTIM™).

[1082] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with Fibroblast Growth Factors. Fibroblast Growth Factors that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, FGF-1, FGF-2, FGF-3, FGF-4, FGF-5, FGF-6, FGF-7, FGF-8, FGF-9, FGF-10, FGF-11, FGF-12, FGF-13, FGF-14, and FGF-15.

[1083] In additional embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination with other therapeutic or prophylactic regimens, such as, for example, radiation therapy.

Example 24 Method of Treating Decreased Levels of the Polvpeptide

[1084] The present invention relates to a method for treating an individual in need of an increased level of a polypeptide of the invention in the body comprising administering to such an individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist of the invention (including polypeptides of the invention). Moreover, it will be appreciated that conditions caused by a decrease in the standard or normal expression level of a secreted protein in an individual can be treated by administering the polypeptide of the present invention, preferably in the secreted form. Thus, the invention also provides a method of treatment of an individual in need of an increased level of the polypeptide comprising administering to such an individual a Therapeutic comprising an amount of the polypeptide to increase the activity level of the polypeptide in such an individual.

[1085] For example, a patient with decreased levels of a polypeptide receives a daily dose 0.1-100 ug/kg of the polypeptide for six consecutive days. Preferably, the polypeptide is in the secreted form. The exact details of the dosing scheme, based on administration and formulation, are provided in Example 23.

Example 25 Method of Treating Increased Levels of the Polypeptide

[1086] The present invention also relates to a method of treating an individual in need of a decreased level of a polypeptide of the invention in the body comprising administering to such an individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antagonist of the invention (including polypeptides and antibodies of the invention).

[1087] In one example, antisense technology is used to inhibit production of a polypeptide of the present invention. This technology is one example of a method of decreasing levels of a polypeptide, preferably a secreted form, due to a variety of etiologies, such as cancer. For example, a patient diagnosed with abnormally increased levels of a polypeptide is administered intravenously antisense polynucleotides at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg day for 21 days. This treatment is repeated after a 7-day rest period if the treatment was well tolerated. The formulation of the antisense polynucleotide is provided in Example 23.

Example 26 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy-Ex Vivo

[1088] One method of gene therapy transplants fibroblasts, which are capable of expressing a polypeptide, onto a patient. Generally, fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resulting tissue is placed in tissue-culture medium and separated into small pieces. Small chunks of the tissue are placed on a wet surface of a tissue culture flask, approximately ten pieces are placed in each flask. The flask is turned upside down, closed tight and left at room temperature over night. After 24 hours at room temperature, the flask is inverted and the chunks of tissue remain fixed to the bottom of the flask and fresh media (e.g., Ham's F12 media, with 10% FBS, penicillin and streptomycin) is added. The flasks are then incubated at 37 degree C. for approximately one week.

[1089] At this time, fresh media is added and subsequently changed every several days. After an additional two weeks in culture, a monolayer of fibroblasts emerge. The monolayer is trypsinized and scaled into larger flasks.

[1090] pMV-7 (Kirschmeier, P.T. et al., DNA, 7:219-25 (1988)), flanked by the long terminal repeats of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus, is digested with EcoRI and HindlIl and subsequently treated with calf intestinal phosphatase. The linear vector is fractionated on agarose gel and purified, using glass beads.

[1091] The cDNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention can be amplified using PCR primers which correspond to the 5′ and 3′ end sequences respectively as set forth in Example 1 using primers and having appropriate restriction sites and initiation/stop codons, if necessary. Preferably, the 5′ primer contains an EcoRI site and the 3′ primer includes a HindIll site. Equal quantities of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus linear backbone and the amplified EcoRI and HindIII fragment are added together, in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. The resulting mixture is maintained under conditions appropriate for ligation of the two fragments. The ligation mixture is then used to transform bacteria HB11, which are then plated onto agar containing kanamycin for the purpose of confirming that the vector has the gene of interest properly inserted.

[1092] The amphotropic pA317 or GP+aml2 packaging cells are grown in tissue culture to confluent density in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM) with 10% calf serum (CS), penicillin and streptomycin. The MSV vector containing the gene is then added to the media and the packaging cells transduced with the vector. The packaging cells now produce infectious viral particles containing the gene (the packaging cells are now referred to as producer cells).

[1093] Fresh media is added to the transduced producer cells, and subsequently, the media is harvested from a 10 cm plate of confluent producer cells. The spent media, containing the infectious viral particles, is filtered through a millipore filter to remove detached producer cells and this media is then used to infect fibroblast cells. Media is removed from a sub-confluent plate of fibroblasts and quickly replaced with the media from the producer cells. This media is removed and replaced with fresh media. If the titer of virus is high, then virtually all fibroblasts will be infected and no selection is required. If the titer is very low, then it is necessary to use a retroviral vector that has a selectable marker, such as neo or his. Once the fibroblasts have been efficiently infected, the fibroblasts are analyzed to determine whether protein is produced.

[1094] The engineered fibroblasts are then transplanted onto the host, either alone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3 microcarrier beads.

Example 27 Gene-therapy Using Endogenous Genes Corresponding to Polynucleotides of the Invention

[1095] Another method of gene therapy according to the present invention involves operably associating the endogenous polynucleotide sequence of the invention with a promoter via homologous recombination as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; International Publication NO: WO 96/2941 1, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication NO: WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature, 342:435-438 (1989). This method involves the activation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which is not expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower level than desired.

[1096] Polynucleotide constructs are made which contain a promoter and targeting sequences, which are homologous to the 5′ non-coding sequence of endogenous polynucleotide sequence, flanking the promoter. The targeting sequence will be sufficiently near the 5′ end of the polynucleotide sequence so the promoter will be operably linked to the endogenous sequence upon homologous recombination. The promoter and the targeting sequences can be amplified using PCR. Preferably, the amplified promoter contains distinct restriction enzyme sites on the 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the first targeting sequence contains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′ end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end of the second targeting sequence contains the same restriction site as the 3′ end of the amplified promoter.

[1097] The amplified promoter and the amplified targeting sequences are digested with the appropriate restriction enzymes and subsequently treated with calf intestinal phosphatase. The digested promoter and digested targeting sequences are added together in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. The resulting mixture is maintained under conditions appropriate for ligation of the two fragments. The construct is size fractionated on an agarose gel then purified by phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation.

[1098] In this Example, the polynucleotide constructs are administered as naked polynucleotides via electroporation. However, the polynucleotide constructs may also be administered with transfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences, viral particles, precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in the art.

[1099] Once the cells are transfected, homologous recombination will take place which results in the promoter being operably linked to the endogenous polynucleotide sequence. This results in the expression of polynucleotide corresponding to the polynucleotide in the cell. Expression may be detected by immunological staining, or any other method known in the art.

[1100] Fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resulting tissue is placed in DMEM+10% fetal calf serum. Exponentially growing or early stationary phase fibroblasts are trypsinized and rinsed from the plastic surface with nutrient medium. An aliquot of the cell suspension is removed for counting, and the remaining cells are subjected to centrifugation. The supernatant is aspirated and the pellet is resuspended in 5 ml of electroporation buffer (20 mM HEPES pH 7.3, 137 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 0.7 mM Na₂ HPO₄, 6 mM dextrose). The cells are recentrifuged, the supernatant aspirated, and the cells resuspended in electroporation buffer containing 1 mg/ml acetylated bovine serum albumin. The final cell suspension contains approximately 3×10⁶ cells/ml. Electroporation should be performed immediately following resuspension.

[1101] Plasmid DNA is prepared according to standard techniques. For example, to construct a plasmid for targeting to the locus corresponding to the polynucleotide of the invention, plasmid pUC18 (MBI Fermentas, Amherst, N.Y.) is digested with HindIII. The CMV promoter is amplified by PCR with an XbaI site on the 5′ end and a BamHI site on the 3′end. Two non-coding sequences are amplified via PCR: one non-coding sequence (fragment 1) is amplified with a HindlIl site at the 5′ end and an Xba site at the 3′end; the other non-coding sequence (fragment 2) is amplified with a BamHI site at the 5 end and a HindIII site at the 3′end. The CMV promoter and the fragments (1 and 2) are digested with the appropriate enzymes (CMV promoter—XbaI and BamHI; fragment 1—XbaI; fragment 2—BamHI) and ligated together. The resulting ligation product is digested with HindIII, and ligated with the HindIII-digested pUC18 plasmid.

[1102] Plasmid DNA is added to a sterile cuvette with a 0.4 cm electrode gap (Bio-Rad). The final DNA concentration is generally at least 120 μg/ml. 0.5 ml of the cell suspension (containing approximately 1.5×10⁶ cells) is then added to the cuvette, and the cell suspension and DNA solutions are gently mixed. Electroporation is performed with a Gene-Pulser apparatus (Bio-Rad). Capacitance and voltage are set at 960 pF and 250-300 V, respectively. As voltage increases, cell survival decreases, but the percentage of surviving cells that stably incorporate the introduced DNA into their genome increases dramatically. Given these parameters, a pulse time of approximately 14-20 mSec should be observed.

[1103] Electroporated cells are maintained at room temperature for approximately 5 min, and the contents of the cuvette are then gently removed with a sterile transfer pipette. The cells are added directly to 10 ml of prewarmed nutrient media (DMEM with 15% calf serum) in a 10 cm dish and incubated at 37 degree C. The following day, the media is aspirated and replaced with 10 ml of fresh media and incubated for a further 16-24 hours.

[1104] The engineered fibroblasts are then injected into the host, either alone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3 microcarrier beads. The fibroblasts now produce the protein product. The fibroblasts can then be introduced into a patient as described above.

Example 28 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy—in vivo

[1105] Another aspect of the present invention is using in vivo gene therapy methods to treat disorders, diseases and conditions. The gene therapy method relates to the introduction of naked nucleic acid (DNA, RNA, and antisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to increase or decrease the expression of the polypeptide. The polynucleotide of the present invention may be operatively linked to a promoter or any other genetic elements necessary for the expression of the polypeptide by the target tissue. Such gene therapy and delivery techniques and methods are known in the art, see, for example, WO90/11092, WO98/11779; U.S. Pat. No. 5693622, 5705151, 5580859; Tabata et al., Cardiovasc. Res. 35(3):470-479 (1997); Chao et al., Pharmacol. Res. 35(6):517-522 (1997); Wolff, Neuromuscul. Disord. 7(5):314-318 (1997); Schwartz et al., Gene Ther. 3(5):405-411 (1996); Tsurumi et al., Circulation 94(12):3281-3290 (1996) (incorporated herein by reference).

[1106] The polynucleotide constructs may be delivered by any method that delivers injectable materials to the cells of an animal, such as, injection into the interstitial space of tissues (heart, muscle, skin, lung, liver, intestine and the like). The polynucleotide constructs can be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid or aqueous carrier.

[1107] The term “naked” polynucleotide, DNA or RNA, refers to sequences that are free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote, or facilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. However, the polynucleotides of the present invention may also be delivered in liposome formulations (such as those taught in Feigner P.L. et al. (1995) Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 772:126-139 and Abdallah B. et al. (1995) Biol. Cell 85(1):1-7) which can be prepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art.

[1108] The polynucleotide vector constructs used in the gene therapy method are preferably constructs that will not integrate into the host genome nor will they contain sequences that allow for replication. Any strong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used for driving the expression of DNA. Unlike other gene therapies techniques, one major advantage of introducing naked nucleic acid sequences into target cells is the transitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis in the cells. Studies have shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can be introduced into cells to provide production of the desired polypeptide for periods of up to six months.

[1109] The polynucleotide construct can be delivered to the interstitial space of tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone, cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis, ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connective tissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellular fluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organ tissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagen fibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissue ensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly the space occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid of the lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscle tissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may be conveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising these cells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent, non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery and expression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completely differentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skin fibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in their ability to take up and express polynucleotides.

[1110] For the naked polynucleotide injection, an effective dosage amount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 g/kg body weight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be from about 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05 mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site of injection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequence can readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and may depend on the condition being treated and the route of administration. The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route of injection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, other parenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosol formulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues, throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked polynucleotide constructs can be delivered to arteries during angioplasty by the catheter used in the procedure.

[1111] The dose response effects of injected polynucleotide in muscle in vivo is determined as follows. Suitable template DNA for production of mRNA coding for polypeptide of the present invention is prepared in accordance with a standard recombinant DNA methodology. The template DNA, which may be either circular or linear, is either used as naked DNA or complexed with liposomes. The quadriceps muscles of mice are then injected with various amounts of the template DNA.

[1112] Five to six week old female and male Balb/C mice are anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection with 0.3 ml of 2.5% Avertin. A 1.5 cm incision is made on the anterior thigh, and the quadriceps muscle is directly visualized. The template DNA is injected in 0.1 ml of carrier in a 1 cc syringe through a 27 gauge needle over one minute, approximately 0.5 cm from the distal insertion site of the muscle into the knee and about 0.2 cm deep. A suture is placed over the injection site for future localization, and the skin is closed with stainless steel clips.

[1113] After an appropriate incubation time (e.g., 7 days) muscle extracts are prepared by excising the entire quadriceps. Every fifth 15 um cross-section of the individual quadriceps muscles is histochemically stained for protein expression. A time course for protein expression may be done in a similar fashion except that quadriceps from different mice are harvested at different times. Persistence of DNA in muscle following injection may be determined by Southern blot analysis after preparing total cellular DNA and HIRT supernatants from injected and control mice. The results of the above experimentation in mice can be use to extrapolate proper dosages and other treatment parameters in humans and other animals using naked DNA.

Example 29 Transgenic Animals

[1114] The polypeptides of the invention can also be expressed in transgenic animals. Animals of any species, including, but not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, pigs, micro-pigs, goats, sheep, cows and non-human primates, e.g., baboons, monkeys, and chimpanzees may be used to generate transgenic animals. In a specific embodiment, techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art, are used to express polypeptides of the invention in humans, as part of a gene therapy protocol.

[1115] Any technique known in the art may be used to introduce the transgene (i.e., polynucleotides of the invention) into animals to produce the founder lines of transgenic animals. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, pronuclear microinjection (Paterson et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40:691-698 (1994); Carver et al., Biotechnology (NY) 11:1263-1270 (1993); Wright et al., Biotechnology (NY) 9:830-834 (1991); and Hoppe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191 (1989)); retrovirus mediated gene transfer into germ lines (Van der Putten et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 82:6148-6152 (1985)), blastocysts or embryos; gene targeting in embryonic stem cells (Thompson et al., Cell 56:313-321 (1989)); electroporation of cells or embryos (Lo, 1983, Mol Cell. Biol. 3:1803-1814 (1983)); introduction of the polynucleotides of the invention using a gene gun (see, e.g., Ulmer et al., Science 259:1745 (1993); introducing nucleic acid constructs into embryonic pleuripotent stem cells and transferring the stem cells back into the blastocyst; and sperm-mediated gene transfer (Lavitrano et al., Cell 57:717-723 (1989); etc. For a review of such techniques, see Gordon, “Transgenic Animals,” Intl. Rev. Cytol. 115:171-229 (1989), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[1116] Any technique known in the art may be used to produce transgenic clones containing polynucleotides of the invention, for example, nuclear transfer into enucleated oocytes of nuclei from cultured embryonic, fetal, or adult cells induced to quiescence (Campell et al., Nature 380:64-66 (1996); Wilmut et al., Nature 385:810-813 (1997)).

[1117] The present invention provides for transgenic animals that carry the transgene in all their cells, as well as animals which carry the transgene in some, but not all their cells, i.e., mosaic animals or chimeric. The transgene may be integrated as a single transgene or as multiple copies such as in concatamers, e.g., head-to-head tandems or head-to-tail tandems. The transgene may also be selectively introduced into and activated in a particular cell type by following, for example, the teaching of Lasko et al. (Lasko et al., Proc. NatI. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6232-6236 (1992)). The regulatory sequences required for such a cell-type specific activation will depend upon the particular cell type of interest, and will be apparent to those of skill in the art. When it is desired that the polynucleotide transgene be integrated into the chromosomal site of the endogenous gene, gene targeting is preferred. Briefly, when such a technique is to be utilized, vectors containing some nucleotide sequences homologous to the endogenous gene are designed for the purpose of integrating, via homologous recombination with chromosomal sequences, into and disrupting the function of the nucleotide sequence of the endogenous gene. The transgene may also be selectively introduced into a particular cell type, thus inactivating the endogenous gene in only that cell type, by following, for example, the teaching of Gu et al. (Gu et al., Science 265:103-106 (1994)). The regulatory sequences required for such a cell-type specific inactivation will depend upon the particular cell type of interest, and will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

[1118] Once transgenic animals have been generated, the expression of the recombinant gene may be assayed utilizing standard techniques. Initial screening may be accomplished by Southern blot analysis or PCR techniques to analyze animal tissues to verify that integration of the transgene has taken place. The level of mRNA expression of the transgene in the tissues of the transgenic animals may also be assessed using techniques which include, but are not limited to, Northern blot analysis of tissue samples obtained from the animal, in situ hybridization analysis, and reverse transcriptase-PCR (rt-PCR). Samples of transgenic gene-expressing tissue may also be evaluated immunocytochemically or immunohistochemically using antibodies specific for the transgene product.

[1119] Once the founder animals are produced, they may be bred, inbred, outbred, or crossbred to produce colonies of the particular animal. Examples of such breeding strategies include, but are not limited to: outbreeding of founder animals with more than one integration site in order to establish separate lines; inbreeding of separate lines in order to produce compound transgenics that express the transgene at higher levels because of the effects of additive expression of each transgene; crossing of heterozygous transgenic animals to produce animals homozygous for a given integration site in order to both augment expression and eliminate the need for screening of animals by DNA analysis; crossing of separate homozygous lines to produce compound heterozygous or homozygous lines; and breeding to place the transgene on a distinct background that is appropriate for an experimental model of interest.

[1120] Transgenic animals of the invention have uses which include, but are not limited to, animal model systems useful in elaborating the biological function of polypeptides of the present invention, studying diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with aberrant expression, and in screening for compounds effective in ameliorating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

Example 30 Knock-out Animals

[1121] Endogenous gene expression can also be reduced by inactivating or “knocking out” the gene and/or its promoter using targeted homologous recombination. (E.g., see Smithies et al., Nature 317:230-234 (1985); Thomas & Capecchi, Cell 51:503-512 (1987); Thompson et al., Cell 5:313-321 (1989); each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). For example, a mutant, non-functional polynucleotide of the invention (or a completely unrelated DNA sequence) flanked by DNA homologous to the endogenous polynucleotide sequence (either the coding regions or regulatory regions of the gene) can be used, with or without a selectable marker and/or a negative selectable marker, to transfect cells that express polypeptides of the invention in vivo. In another embodiment, techniques known in the art are used to generate knockouts in cells that contain, but do not express the gene of interest. Insertion of the DNA construct, via targeted homologous recombination, results in inactivation of the targeted gene. Such approaches are particularly suited in research and agricultural fields where modifications to embryonic stem cells can be used to generate animal offspring with an inactive targeted gene (e.g., see Thomas & Capecchi 1987 and Thompson 1989, supra). However this approach can be routinely adapted for use in humans provided the recombinant DNA constructs are directly administered or targeted to the required site in vivo using appropriate viral vectors that will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

[1122] In further embodiments of the invention, cells that are genetically engineered to express the polypeptides of the invention, or alternatively, that are genetically engineered not to express the polypeptides of the invention (e.g., knockouts) are administered to a patient in vivo. Such cells may be obtained from the patient (i.e., animal, including human) or an MHC compatible donor and can include, but are not limited to fibroblasts, bone marrow cells, blood cells (e.g., lymphocytes), adipocytes, muscle cells, endothelial cells etc. The cells are genetically engineered in vitro using recombinant DNA techniques to introduce the coding sequence of polypeptides of the invention into the cells, or alternatively, to disrupt the coding sequence and/or endogenous regulatory sequence associated with the polypeptides of the invention, by transduction (using viral vectors, and preferably vectors that integrate the transgene into the cell genome) or transfection procedures, including, but not limited to, the use of plasmids, cosmids, YACs, naked DNA, electroporation, liposomes, etc. The coding sequence of the polypeptides of the invention can be placed under the control of a strong constitutive or inducible promoter or promoter/enhancer to achieve expression, and preferably secretion, of the polypeptides of the invention. The engineered cells which express and preferably secrete the polypeptides of the invention can be introduced into the patient systemically, e.g., in the circulation, or intraperitoneally.

[1123] Alternatively, the cells can be incorporated into a matrix and implanted in the body, e.g., genetically engineered fibroblasts can be implanted as part of a skin graft; genetically engineered endothelial cells can be implanted as part of a lymphatic or vascular graft. (See, for example, Anderson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,349; and Mulligan & Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,959 each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).

[1124] When the cells to be administered are non-autologous or non-MHC compatible cells, they can be administered using well known techniques which prevent the development of a host immune response against the introduced cells. For example, the cells may be introduced in an encapsulated form which, while allowing for an exchange of components with the immediate extracellular environment, does not allow the introduced cells to be recognized by the host immune system.

[1125] Transgenic and “knock-out” animals of the invention have uses which include, but are not limited to, animal model systems useful in elaborating the biological function of polypeptides of the present invention, studying diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with aberrant expression, and in screening for compounds effective in ameliorating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

Example 31 Production of an Antibody

[1126] a) Hybridoma Technology

[1127] The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by a variety of methods. (See, Current Protocols, Chapter 2.) As one example of such methods, cells expressing XXX are administered to an animal to induce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation of XXX protein is prepared and purified to render it substantially free of natural contaminants. Such a preparation is then introduced into an animal in order to produce polyclonal antisera of greater specific activity.

[1128] Monoclonal antibodies specific for protein XXX are prepared using hybridoma technology. (Kohler et al., Nature 256:495 (1975); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:292 (1976); Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas, Elsevier, N.Y., pp. 563-681 (1981)). In general, an animal (preferably a mouse) is immunized with XXX polypeptide or, more preferably, with a secreted XXX polypeptide-expressing cell. Such polypeptide-expressing cells are cultured in any suitable tissue culture medium, preferably in Earle's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (inactivated at about 56° C.), and supplemented with about 10 g/l of nonessential amino acids, about 1,000 U/ml of penicillin, and about 100 μg/ml of streptomycin.

[1129] The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with a suitable myeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may be employed in accordance with the present invention; however, it is preferable to employ the parent myeloma cell line (SP20), available from the ATCC. After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectively maintained in HAT medium, and then cloned by limiting dilution as described by Wands et al. (Gastroenterology 80:225-232 (1981)). The hybridoma cells obtained through such a selection are then assayed to identify clones which secrete antibodies capable of binding the XXX polypeptide.

[1130] Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of binding to XXX polypeptide can be produced in a two-step procedure using anti-idiotypic antibodies. Such a method makes use of the fact that antibodies are themselves antigens, and therefore, it is possible to obtain an antibody which binds to a second antibody. In accordance with this method, protein specific antibodies are used to immunize an animal, preferably a mouse. The splenocytes of such an animal are then used to produce hybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells are screened to identify clones which produce an antibody whose ability to bind to the XXX protein-specific antibody can be blocked by XXX. Such antibodies comprise anti-idiotypic antibodies to the XXX protein-specific antibody and are used to immunize an animal to induce formation of further XXX protein-specific antibodies.

[1131] For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, an antibody is “humanized”. Such antibodies can be produced using genetic constructs derived from hybridoma cells producing the monoclonal antibodies described above. Methods for producing chimeric and humanized antibodies are known in the art and are discussed herein. (See, for review, Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP 171496; Morrison et al., EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533; Robinson et al., WO 8702671; Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature 314:268 (1985).)

[1132] b) Isolation of Antibody Fragments Directed

[1133] Against XXX from a Library of scFvs

[1134] Naturally occurring V-genes isolated from human PBLs are constructed into a library of antibody fragments which contain reactivities against XXX to which the donor may or may not have been exposed (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,793 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

[1135] Rescue of the Library. A library of scFvs is constructed from the RNA of human PBLs as described in PCT publication WO 92/01047. To rescue phage displaying antibody fragments, approximately 109 E. coli harboring the phagemid are used to inoculate 50 ml of 2xTY containing 1% glucose and 100 μg/ml of ampicillin (2xTY-AMP-GLU) and grown to an O.D. of 0.8 with shaking. Five ml of this culture is used to innoculate 50 ml of 2xTY-AMP-GLU, 2×10⁸ TU of delta gene 3 helper (M13 delta gene III, see PCT publication WO 92101047) are added and the culture incubated at 37° C. for 45 minutes without shaking and then at 37° C. for 45 minutes with shaking. The culture is centrifuged at 4000 r.p.m. for 10 min. and the pellet resuspended in 2 liters of 2xTY containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin and 50 ug/ml kanamycin and grown overnight. Phage are prepared as described in PCT publication WO 92/01047.

[1136] M13 delta gene III is prepared as follows: M13 delta gene III helper phage does not encode gene III protein, hence the phage(mid) displaying antibody fragments have a greater avidity of binding to antigen. Infectious M13 delta gene III particles are made by growing the helper phage in cells harboring a pUC19 derivative supplying the wild type gene III protein during phage morphogenesis. The culture is incubated for 1 hour at 37° C. without shaking and then for a further hour at 37° C. with shaking. Cells are spun down (IEC-Centra 8,400 r.p.m. for 10 min), resuspended in 300 ml 2xTY broth containing 100 μg ampicillin/ml and 25 μg kanamycin/mi (2xTY-AMP-KAN) and grown overnight, shaking at 37° C. Phage particles are purified and concentrated from the culture medium by two PEG-precipitations (Sambrook et al., 1990), resuspended in 2 ml PBS and passed through a 0.45 μm filter (Minisart NML; Sartorius) to give a final concentration of approximately 1013 transducing units/ml (ampicillin-resistant clones).

[1137] Panning of the Library. Immunotubes (Nunc) are coated overnight in PBS with 4 ml of either 100 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml of a polypeptide of the present invention. Tubes are blocked with 2% Marvel-PBS for 2 hours at 37° C. and then washed 3 times in PBS. Approximately 1013 TU of phage is applied to the tube and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature tumbling on an over and under turntable and then left to stand for another 1.5 hours. Tubes are washed 10 times with PBS 0.1% Tween-20 and 10 times with PBS. Phage are eluted by adding 1 ml of 100 mM triethylamine and rotating 15 minutes on an under and over turntable after which the solution is immediately neutralized with 0.5 ml of 1.OM Tris-HCI, pH 7.4. Phage are then used to infect 10 ml of mid-log E. coli TG1 by incubating eluted phage with bacteria for 30 minutes at 37° C. The E. coli are then plated on TYE plates containing 1% glucose and 100 μg/ml ampicillin. The resulting bacterial library is then rescued with delta gene 3 helper phage as described above to prepare phage for a subsequent round of selection. This process is then repeated for a total of 4 rounds of affinity purification with tube-washing increased to 20 times with PBS, 0.1% Tween-20 and 20 times with PBS for rounds 3 and 4.

[1138] Characterization of Binders. Eluted phage from the 3rd and 4th rounds of selection are used to infect E. coli HB 2151 and soluble scFv is produced (Marks, et al., 1991) from single colonies for assay. ELISAs are performed with microtitre plates coated with either 10 pg/ml of the polypeptide of the present invention in 50 mM bicarbonate pH 9.6. Clones positive in ELISA are further characterized by PCR fingerprinting (see, e.g., PCT publication WO 92/01047) and then by sequencing. These ELISA positive clones may also be further characterized by techniques known in the art, such as, for example, epitope mapping, binding affinity, receptor signal transduction, ability to block or competitively inhibit antibody/antigen binding, and competitive agonistic or antagonistic activity.

Example 32 Assays Detecting Stimulation or Inhibition of B Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

[1139] Generation of functional humoral immune responses requires both soluble and cognate signaling between B-lineage cells and their microenvironment. Signals may impart a positive stimulus that allows a B-lineage cell to continue its programmed development, or a negative stimulus that instructs the cell to arrest its current developmental pathway. To date, numerous stimulatory and inhibitory signals have been found to influence B cell responsiveness including IL-2, IL4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL10, IL-13, IL-14 and IL-15. Interestingly, these signals are by themselves weak effectors but can, in combination with various co-stimulatory proteins, induce activation, proliferation, differentiation, homing, tolerance and death among B cell populations.

[1140] One of the best studied classes of B-cell co-stimulatory proteins is the TNF-superfamily. Within this family CD40, CD27, and CD30 along with their respective ligands CD154, CD70, and CD153 have been found to regulate a variety of immune responses. Assays which allow for the detection and/or observation of the proliferation and differentiation of these B-cell populations and their precursors are valuable tools in determining the effects various proteins may have on these B-cell populations in terms of proliferation and differentiation. Listed below are two assays designed to allow for the detection of the differentiation, proliferation, or inhibition of B-cell populations and their precursors.

[1141] In Vitro Assay—Purified polypeptides of the invention, or truncated forms thereof, is assessed for its ability to induce activation, proliferation, differentiation or inhibition and/or death in B-cell populations and their precursors. The activity of the polypeptides of the invention on purified human tonsillar B cells, measured qualitatively over the dose range from 0.1 to 10,000 ng/mL, is assessed in a standard B-lymphocyte co-stimulation assay in which purified tonsillar B cells are cultured in the presence of either formalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) or immobilized anti-human IgM antibody as the priming agent. Second signals such as IL-2 and IL-15 synergize with SAC and IgM crosslinking to elicit B cell proliferation as measured by tritiated-thymidine incorporation. Novel synergizing agents can be readily identified using this assay. The assay involves isolating human tonsillar B cells by magnetic bead (MACS) depletion of CD3-positive cells. The resulting cell population is greater than 95% B cells as assessed by expression of CD45R(B220).

[1142] Various dilutions of each sample are placed into individual wells of a 96-well plate to which are added 10⁵ B-cells suspended in culture medium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% PFBS, 5×10-5M 2ME, 100 U/ml penicillin, lOug/ml streptomycin, and 10-5 dilution of SAC) in a total volume of 150 ul. Proliferation or inhibition is quantitated by a 20 h pulse (1 uCi/well) with 3H-thymidine (6.7 Ci/mM) beginning 72 h post factor addition. The positive and negative controls are IL2 and medium respectively.

[1143] In Vivo Assay—BALB/c mice are injected (i.p.) twice per day with buffer only, or 2 mg/Kg of a polypeptide of the invention, or truncated forms thereof. Mice receive this treatment for 4 consecutive days, at which time they are sacrificed and various tissues and serum collected for analyses. Comparison of H&E sections from normal spleens and spleens treated with polypeptides of the invention identify the results of the activity of the polypeptides on spleen cells, such as the diffusion of peri-arterial lymphatic sheaths, and/or significant increases in the nucleated cellularity of the red pulp regions, which may indicate the activation of the differentiation and proliferation of B-cell populations. Immunohistochemical studies using a B cell marker, anti-CD45R(B220), are used to determine whether any physiological changes to splenic cells, such as splenic disorganization, are due to increased B-cell representation within loosely defined B-cell zones that infiltrate established T-cell regions.

[1144] Flow cytometric analyses of the spleens from mice treated with polypeptide is used to indicate whether the polypeptide specifically increases the proportion of ThB+, CD45R(B220)dull B cells over that which is observed in control mice.

[1145] Likewise, a predicted consequence of increased mature B-cell representation in vivo is a relative increase in serum Ig titers. Accordingly, serum IgM and IgA levels are compared between buffer and polypeptide-treated mice.

[1146] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides of the invention (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention.

Example 33 T Cell Proliferation Assay

[1147] A CD3-induced proliferation assay is performed on PBMCs and is measured by the uptake of ³H-thymidine. The assay is performed as follows. Ninety-six well plates are coated with 100 μl/well of mAb to CD3 (HIT3a, Pharmingen) or isotype-matched control mAb (B33.1) overnight at 4 degrees C. (1 μLg/ml in 0.05M bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.5), then washed three times with PBS. PBMC are isolated by F/H gradient centrifugation from human peripheral blood and added to quadruplicate wells (5×10⁴/well) of mAb coated plates in RPMI containing 10% FCS and P/S in the presence of varying concentrations of polypeptides of the invention (total volume 200 ul). Relevant protein buffer and medium alone are controls. After 48 hr. culture at 37 degrees C., plates are spun for 2 min. at 1000 rpm and 100 μl of supernatant is removed and stored −20 degrees C. for measurement of IL-2 (or other cytokines) if effect on proliferation is observed. Wells are supplemented with 100 ul of medium containing 0.5 uCi of ³H-thymidine and cultured at 37 degrees C. for 18-24 hr. Wells are harvested and incorporation of ³H-thymidine used as a measure of proliferation. Anti-CD3 alone is the positive control for proliferation. IL-2 (100 U/ml) is also used as a control which enhances proliferation. Control antibody which does not induce proliferation of T cells is used as the negative controls for the effects of polypeptides of the invention.

[1148] The studies described in this example tested activity of polypeptides of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides of the invention (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention.

Example 34 Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on the Expression of MHC Class II, Costimulatory and Adhesion Molecules and Cell Differentiation of Monocytes and Monocyte-derived Human Dendritic Cells

[1149] Dendritic cells are generated by the expansion of proliferating precursors found in the peripheral blood: adherent PBMC or elutriated monocytic fractions are cultured for 7-10 days with GM-CSF (50 ng/ml) and IL-4 (20 nglml). These dendritic cells have the characteristic phenotype of immature cells (expression of CD1, CD80, CD86, CD40 and MHC class II antigens). Treatment with activating factors, such as TNF-α, causes a rapid change in surface phenotype (increased expression of MHC class I and II, costimulatory and adhesion molecules, downregulation of FCγRII, upregulation of CD83). These changes correlate with increased antigen-presenting capacity and with functional maturation of the dendritic cells.

[1150] FACS analysis of surface antigens is performed as follows. Cells are treated 1-3 days with increasing concentrations of polypeptides of the invention or LPS (positive control), washed with PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.02 mM sodium azide, and then incubated with 1:20 dilution of appropriate FITC- or PE-labeled monoclonal antibodies for 30 minutes at 4 degrees C. After an additional wash, the labeled cells are analyzed by flow cytometry on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson).

[1151] Effect on the Production of Cytokines.

[1152] Cytokines generated by dendritic cells, in particular IL-12, are important in the initiation of T-cell dependent immune responses. IL-12 strongly influences the development of Thl helper T-cell immune response, and induces cytotoxic T and NK cell function. An ELISA is used to measure the IL-12 release as follows. Dendritic cells (10⁶/ml) are treated with increasing concentrations of polypeptides of the invention for 24 hours. LPS (100 ng/ml) is added to the cell culture as positive control. Supernatants from the cell cultures are then collected and analyzed for IL-12 content using commercial ELISA kit (e.g, R & D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.)). The standard protocols provided with the kits are used.

[1153] Effect on the expression of MHC Class II, costimulatory and adhesion molecules. Three major families of cell surface antigens can be identified on monocytes: adhesion molecules, molecules involved in antigen presentation, and Fc receptor. Modulation of the expression of MHC class II antigens and other costimulatory molecules, such as B7 and ICAM-1, may result in changes in the antigen presenting capacity of monocytes and ability to induce T cell activation. Increase expression of Fc receptors may correlate with improved monocyte cytotoxic activity, cytokine release and phagocytosis.

[1154] FACS analysis is used to examine the surface antigens as follows. Monocytes are treated 1-5 days with increasing concentrations of polypeptides of the invention or LPS (positive control), washed with PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.02 mM sodium azide, and then incubated with 1:20 dilution of appropriate FITC- or PE-labeled monoclonal antibodies for 30 minutes at 4 degreesc. After an additional wash, the labeled cells are analyzed by flow cytometry on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson).

[1155] Monocyte Activation and/or Increased Survival.

[1156] Assays for molecules that activate (or alternatively, inactivate) monocytes and/or increase monocyte survival (or alternatively, decrease monocyte survival) are known in the art and may routinely be applied to determine whether a molecule of the invention functions as an inhibitor or activator of monocytes. Polypeptides, agonists, or antagonists of the invention can be screened using the three assays described below. For each of these assays, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are purified from single donor leukopacks (American Red Cross, Baltimore, Md.) by centrifugation through a Histopaque gradient (Sigma). Monocytes are isolated from PBMC by counterflow centrifugal elutriation.

[1157] Monocyte Survival Assay.

[1158] Human peripheral blood monocytes progressively lose viability when cultured in absence of serum or other stimuli. Their death results from internally regulated process (apoptosis). Addition to the culture of activating factors, such as TNF-alpha dramatically improves cell survival and prevents DNA fragmentation. Propidium iodide (PI) staining is used to measure apoptosis as follows. Monocytes are cultured for 48 hours in polypropylene tubes in serum-free medium (positive control), in the presence of 100 ng/ml TNF-alpha (negative control), and in the presence of varying concentrations of the compound to be tested. Cells are suspended at a concentration of 2×10⁶/ml in PBS containing PI at a final concentration of 5 μg/ml, and then incubaed at room temperature for 5 minutes before FACScan analysis. PI uptake has been demonstrated to correlate with DNA fragmentation in this experimental paradigm.

[1159] Effect on Cytokine Release.

[1160] An important function of monocytes/macrophages is their regulatory activity on other cellular populations of the immune system through the release of cytokines after stimulation. An ELISA to measure cytokine release is performed as follows. Human monocytes are incubated at a density of 5×10⁵ cells/ml with increasing concentrations of the a polypeptide of the invention and under the same conditions, but in the absence of the polypeptide. For IL-12 production, the cells are primed overnight with IFN (100 U/ml) in presence of a polypeptide of the invention. LPS (10 ng/ml) is then added. Conditioned media are collected after 24 h and kept frozen until use. Measurement of TNF-alpha, IL-10, MCP-1 and IL-8 is then performed using a commercially available ELISA kit (e.g, R & D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.)) and applying the standard protocols provided with the kit.

[1161] Oxidative Burst.

[1162] Purified monocytes are plated in 96-w plate at 2-1×10⁵ cell/well. Increasing concentrations of polypeptides of the invention are added to the wells in a total volume of 0.2 ml culture medium (RPMI 1640+10% FCS, glutamine and antibiotics). After 3 days incubation, the plates are centrifuged and the medium is removed from the wells. To the macrophage monolayers, 0.2 ml per well of phenol red solution (140 mM NaCl, 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, 5.5 mM dextrose, 0.56 mM phenol red and 19 U/ml of HRPO) is added, together with the stimulant (200 nM PMA). The plates are incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours and the reaction is stopped by adding 20 μl iN NaOH per well. The absorbance is read at 610 nm. To calculate the amount of H₂0₂ produced by the macrophages, a standard curve of a H₂0₂ solution of known molarity is performed for each experiment.

[1163] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polypeptides, polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 35 Biological Effects of Polypeptides of the Invention

[1164] Astrocyte and Neuronal Assays

[1165] Recombinant polypeptides of the invention, expressed in Escherichia coli and purified as described above, can be tested for activity in promoting the survival, neurite outgrowth, or phenotypic differentiation of cortical neuronal cells and for inducing the proliferation of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive cells, astrocytes. The selection of cortical cells for the bioassay is based on the prevalent expression of FGF-1 and FGF-2 in cortical structures and on the previously reported enhancement of cortical neuronal survival resulting from FGF-2 treatment. A thymidine incorporation assay, for example, can be used to elucidate a polypeptide of the invention's activity on these cells.

[1166] Moreover, previous reports describing the biological effects of FGF-2 (basic FGF) on cortical or hippocampal neurons in vitro have demonstrated increases in both neuron survival and neurite outgrowth (Walicke et al., “Fibroblast growth factor promotes survival of dissociated hippocampal neurons and enhances neurite extension.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3012-3016. (1986), assay herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). However, reports from experiments done on PC-12 cells suggest that these two responses are not necessarily synonymous and may depend on not only which FGF is being tested but also on which receptor(s) are expressed on the target cells. Using the primary cortical neuronal culture paradigm, the ability of a polypeptide of the invention to induce neurite outgrowth can be compared to the response achieved with FGF-2 using, for example, a thymidine incorporation assay.

[1167] Fibroblast and Endothelial Cell Assays

[1168] Human lung fibroblasts are obtained from Clonetics (San Diego, Calif.) and maintained in growth media from Clonetics. Dermal microvascular endothelial cells are obtained from Cell Applications (San Diego, Calif.). For proliferation assays, the human lung fibroblasts and dermal microvascular endothelial cells can be cultured at 5,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate for one day in growth medium. The cells are then incubated for one day in 0. 1% BSA basal medium. After replacing the medium with fresh 0. 1% BSA medium, the cells are incubated with the test proteins for 3 days. Alamar Blue (Alamar Biosciences, Sacramento, Calif.) is added to each well to a final concentration of 10%. The cells are incubated for 4 hr. Cell viability is measured by reading in a CytoFluor fluorescence reader. For the PGE₂ assays, the human lung fibroblasts are cultured at 5,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate for one day. After a medium change to 0.1% BSA basal medium, the cells are incubated with FGF-2 or polypeptides of the invention with or without IL-1a for 24 hours. The supernatants are collected and assayed for PGE₂ by EIA kit (Cayman, Ann Arbor, Mich.). For the IL-6 assays, the human lung fibroblasts are cultured at 5,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate for one day. After a medium change to 0.1% BSA basal medium, the cells are incubated with FGF-2 or with or without polypeptides of the invention IL-1a for 24 hours. The supernatants are collected and assayed for IL-6 by ELISA kit (Endogen, Cambridge, Mass.).

[1169] Human lung fibroblasts are cultured with FGF-2 or polypeptides of the invention for 3 days in basal medium before the addition of Alamar Blue to assess effects on growth of the fibroblasts. FGF-2 should show a stimulation at 10-2500 ng/ml which can be used to compare stimulation with polypeptides of the invention.

[1170] Parkinson Models.

[1171] The loss of motor function in Parkinson's disease is attributed to a deficiency of striatal dopamine resulting from the degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection neurons. An animal model for Parkinson's that has been extensively characterized involves the systemic administration of 1-methyl-4 phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). In the CNS, MPTP is taken-up by astrocytes and catabolized by monoamine oxidase B to 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine (MPP+) and released. Subsequently, MPP⁺ is actively accumulated in dopaminergic neurons by the high-affinity reuptake transporter for dopamine. MPP⁺ is then concentrated in mitochondria by the electrochemical gradient and selectively inhibits nicotidamide adenine disphosphate: ubiquinone oxidoreductionase (complex I), thereby interfering with electron transport and eventually generating oxygen radicals.

[1172] It has been demonstrated in tissue culture paradigms that FGF-2 (basic FGF) has trophic activity towards nigral dopaminergic neurons (Ferrari et al., Dev. Biol. 1989). Recently, Dr. Unsicker's group has demonstrated that administering FGF-2 in gel foam implants in the striatum results in the near complete protection of nigral dopaminergic neurons from the toxicity associated with MPTP exposure (Otto and Unsicker, J. Neuroscience, 1990).

[1173] Based on the data with FGF-2, polypeptides of the invention can be evaluated to determine whether it has an action similar to that of FGF-2 in enhancing dopaminergic neuronal survival in vitro and it can also be tested in vivo for protection of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum from the damage associated with MPTP treatment. The potential effect of a polypeptide of the invention is first examined in vitro in a dopaminergic neuronal cell culture paradigm. The cultures are prepared by dissecting the midbrain floor plate from gestation day 14 Wistar rat embryos. The tissue is dissociated with trypsin and seeded at a density of 200,000 cells/cm² on polyorthinine-laminin coated glass coverslips. The cells are maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium and F12 medium containing hormonal supplements (Ni). The cultures are fixed with paraformaldehyde after 8 days in vitro and are processed for tyrosine hydroxylase, a specific marker for dopminergic neurons, immunohistochemical staining. Dissociated cell cultures are prepared from embryonic rats. The culture medium is changed every third day and the factors are also added at that time.

[1174] Since the dopaminergic neurons are isolated from animals at gestation day 14, a developmental time which is past the stage when the dopaminergic precursor cells are proliferating, an increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons would represent an increase in the number of dopaminergic neurons surviving in vitro. Therefore, if a polypeptide of the invention acts to prolong the survival of dopaminergic neurons, it would suggest that the polypeptide may be involved in Parkinson's Disease.

[1175] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 36 The Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on the Growth of Vascular Endothelial Cells

[1176] On day 1, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are seeded at 2-5×10⁴ cells/35 mm dish density in M199 medium containing 4% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 16 units/ml heparin, and 50 units/ml endothelial cell growth supplements (ECGS, Biotechnique, Inc.). On day 2, the medium is replaced with M199 containing 10% FBS, 8 units/ml heparin. A polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y, and positive controls, such as VEGF and basic FGF (bFGF) are added, at varying concentrations. On days 4 and 6, the medium is replaced. On day 8, cell number is determined with a Coulter Counter.

[1177] An increase in the number of HUVEC cells indicates that the polypeptide of the invention may proliferate vascular endothelial cells.

[1178] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 37 Stimulatory Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on the Proliferation of Vascular Endothelial Cells

[1179] For evaluation of mitogenic activity of growth factors, the colorimetric MTS tetrazolium) assay with the electron coupling reagent PMS (phenazine methosulfate) was performed (CellTiter 96 AQ, Promega). Cells are seeded in a 96-well plate (5,000 cells/well) in 0.1 mL serum-supplemented medium and are allowed to attach overnight. After serum-starvation for 12 hours in 0.5% FBS, conditions (BFGF, VEGF₁₆₅ or a polypeptide of the invention in 0.5% FBS) with or without Heparin (8 U/ml) are added to wells for 48 hours. 20 mg of MTS/PMS mixture (1:0.05) are added per well and allowed to incubate for 1 hour at 37° C. before measuring the absorbance at 490 nm in an ELISA plate reader. Background absorbance from control wells (some media, no cells) is subtracted, and seven wells are performed in parallel for each condition. See, Leak et al. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 30A:512-518 (1994).

[1180] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 38 Inhibition of PDGF-induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Stimulatory Effect

[1181] HAoSMC proliferation can be measured, for example, by BrdUrd incorporation. Briefly, subconfluent, quiescent cells grown on the 4-chamber slides are transfected with CRP or FITC-labeled AT2-3LP. Then, the cells are pulsed with 10% calf serum and 6 Mg/ml BrdUrd. After 24 h, immunocytochemistry is performed by using BrdUrd Staining Kit (Zymed Laboratories). In brief, the cells are incubated with the biotinylated mouse anti-BrdUrd antibody at 4 degrees C. for 2 h after being exposed to denaturing solution and then incubated with the streptavidin-peroxidase and diaminobenzidine. After counterstaining with hematoxylin, the cells are mounted for microscopic examination, and the BrdUrd-positive cells are counted. The BrdUrd index is calculated as a percent of the BrdUrd-positive cells to the total cell number. In addition, the simultaneous detection of the BrdUrd staining (nucleus) and the FITC uptake (cytoplasm) is performed for individual cells by the concomitant use of bright field illumination and dark field-UV fluorescent illumination. See, Hayashida et al., J. Biol. Chem. 6:271(36):21985-21992 (1996).

[1182] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 39 Stimulation of Endothelial Migration

[1183] This example will be used to explore the possibility that a polypeptide of the invention may stimulate lymphatic endothelial cell migration.

[1184] Endothelial cell migration assays are performed using a 48 well microchemotaxis chamber (Neuroprobe Inc., Cabin John, M D; Falk, W., et al., J. Immunological Methods 1980;33:239-247). Polyvinylpyrrolidone-free polycarbonate filters with a pore size of 8 um (Nucleopore Corp. Cambridge, Mass.) are coated with 0.1% gelatin for at least 6 hours at room temperature and dried under sterile air. Test substances are diluted to appropriate concentrations in M199 supplemented with 0.25% bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 25 ul of the final dilution is placed in the lower chamber of the modified Boyden apparatus. Subconfluent, early passage (2-6) HUVEC or BMEC cultures are washed and trypsinized for the minimum time required to achieve cell detachment. After placing the filter between lower and upper chamber, 2.5×10⁵ cells suspended in 50 ul M199 containing 1% FBS are seeded in the upper compartment. The apparatus is then incubated for 5 hours at 37° C. in a humidified chamber with 5% CO2 to allow cell migration. After the incubation period, the filter is removed and the upper side of the filter with the non-migrated cells is scraped with a rubber policeman. The filters are fixed with methanol and stained with a Giemsa solution (Diff-Quick, Baxter, McGraw Park, Ill.). Migration is quantified by counting cells of three random high-power fields (40×) in each well, and all groups are performed in quadruplicate.

[1185] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 40 Stimulation of Nitric Oxide Production by Endothelial Cells

[1186] Nitric oxide released by the vascular endothelium is believed to be a mediator of vascular endothelium relaxation. Thus, activity of a polypeptide of the invention can be assayed by determining nitric oxide production by endothelial cells in response to the polypeptide.

[1187] Nitric oxide is measured in 96-well plates of confluent microvascular endothelial cells after 24 hours starvation and a subsequent 4 hr exposure to various levels of a positive control (such as VEGF-1) and the polypeptide of the invention. Nitric oxide in the medium is determined by use of the Griess reagent to measure total nitrite after reduction of nitric oxide-derived nitrate by nitrate reductase. The effect of the polypeptide of the invention on nitric oxide release is examined on HUVEC.

[1188] Briefly, NO release from cultured HUVEC monolayer is measured with a NO-specific polarographic electrode connected to a NO meter (Iso-NO, World Precision Instruments Inc.) (1049). Calibration of the NO elements is performed according to the following equation:

2KNO₂+2 KI+2H₂SO₄62NO+I₂+2H₂O+2K₂SO₄

[1189] The standard calibration curve is obtained by adding graded concentrations of KNO₂ (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 nmol/L) into the calibration solution containing KI and H₂SO₄. The specificity of the Iso-NO electrode to NO is previously determined by measurement of NO from authentic NO gas (1050). The culture medium is removed and HUVECs are washed twice with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline. The cells are then bathed in 5 ml of filtered Krebs-Henseleit solution in 6-well plates, and the cell plates are kept on a slide warmer (Lab Line Instruments Inc.) To maintain the temperature at 37° C. The NO sensor probe is inserted vertically into the wells, keeping the tip of the electrode 2 mm under the surface of the solution, before addition of the different conditions. S-nitroso acetyl penicillamin (SNAP) is used as a positive control. The amount of released NO is expressed as picomoles per 1×10⁶ endothelial cells. All values reported are means of four to six measurements in each group (number of cell culture wells). See, Leak et al. Biochem. and Biophys. Res. Comm. 217:96-105 (1995).

[1190] The studies described in this example tested activity of polypeptides of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 41 Effect of Polypepides of the Invention on Cord Formation in Angiogenesis

[1191] Another step in angiogenesis is cord formation, marked by differentiation of endothelial cells. This bioassay measures the ability of microvascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like structures (hollow structures) when cultured in vitro.

[1192] CADMEC (microvascular endothelial cells) are purchased from Cell Applications, Inc. as proliferating (passage 2) cells and are cultured in Cell Applications' CADMEC Growth Medium and used at passage 5. For the in vitro angiogenesis assay, the wells of a 48-well cell culture plate are coated with Cell Applications' Attachment Factor Medium (200 ml/well) for 30 min. at 37° C. CADMEC are seeded onto the coated wells at 7,500 cells/well and cultured overnight in Growth Medium. The Growth Medium is then replaced with 300 mg Cell Applications° C.hord Formation Medium containing control buffer or a polypeptide of the invention (0.1 to 100 ng/ml) and the cells are cultured for an additional 48 hr. The numbers and lengths of the capillary-like chords are quantitated through use of the Boeckeler VIA-170 video image analyzer. All assays are done in triplicate.

[1193] Commercial (R&D) VEGF (50 ng/ml) is used as a positive control. b-esteradiol (1 ng/ml) is used as a negative control. The appropriate buffer (without protein) is also utilized as a control.

[1194] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 42 Angiogenic Effect on Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane

[1195] Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a well-established system to examine angiogenesis. Blood vessel formation on CAM is easily visible and quantifiable. The ability of polypeptides of the invention to stimulate angiogenesis in CAM can be examined.

[1196] Fertilized eggs of the White Leghorn chick (Gallus gallus) and the Japanese qual (Coturnix coturnix) are incubated at 37.8° C. and 80% humidity. Differentiated CAM of 16-day-old chick and 13-day-old qual embryos is studied with the following methods.

[1197] On Day 4 of development, a window is made into the egg shell of chick eggs. The embryos are checked for normal development and the eggs sealed with cellotape. They are further incubated until Day 13. Thermanox coverslips (Nunc, Naperville, Ill.) are cut into disks of about 5 mm in diameter. Sterile and salt-free growth factors are dissolved in distilled water and about 3.3 mg/5 ml are pipetted on the disks. After air-drying, the inverted disks are applied on CAM. After 3 days, the specimens are fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde and 2% formaldehyde and rinsed in 0.12 M sodium cacodylate buffer. They are photographed with a stereo microscope [Wild M8] and embedded for semi- and ultrathin sectioning as described above. Controls are performed with carrier disks alone.

[1198] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 43 Angiogenesis Assay Using a Matrigel Implant in Mouse

[1199] In vivo angiogenesis assay of a polypeptide of the invention measures the ability-of an existing capillary network to form new vessels in an implanted capsule of murine extracellular matrix material (Matrigel). The protein is mixed with the liquid Matrigel at 4 degree C. and the mixture is then injected subcutaneously in mice where it solidifies. After 7 days, the solid “plug” of Matrigel is removed and examined for the presence of new blood vessels. Matrigel is purchased from Becton Dickinson Labware/Collaborative Biomedical Products.

[1200] When thawed at 4 degree C. the Matrigel material is a liquid. The Matrigel is mixed with a polypeptide of the invention at 150 ng/ml at 4 degrees C. and drawn into cold 3 ml syringes. Female C57B1/6 mice approximately 8 weeks old are injected with the mixture of Matrigel and experimental protein at 2 sites at the midventral aspect of the abdomen (0.5 ml/site). After 7 days, the mice are sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the Matrigel plugs are removed and cleaned (i.e., all clinging membranes and fibrous tissue is removed). Replicate whole plugs are fixed in neutral buffered 10% formaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and used to produce sections for histological examination after staining with Masson's Trichrome. Cross sections from 3 different regions of each plug are processed. Selected sections are stained for the presence of vWF. The positive control for this assay is bovine basic FGF (150 ng/ml). Matrigel alone is used to determine basal levels of angiogenesis.

[1201] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 44 Rescue of Ischemia in Rabbit Lower Limb Model

[1202] To study the in vivo effects of polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention on ischemia, a rabbit hindlimb ischemia model is created by surgical removal of one femoral arteries as described previously (Takeshita et al., Am J. Pathol 147:1649-1660 (1995)). The excision of the femoral artery results in retrograde propagation of thrombus and occlusion of the external iliac artery. Consequently, blood flow to the ischemic limb is dependent upon collateral vessels originating from the internal iliac artery (Takeshitaet al. Am J. Pathol 147:1649-1660 (1995)). An interval of 10 days is allowed for post-operative recovery of rabbits and development of endogenous collateral vessels. At 10 day post-operatively (day 0), after performing a baseline angiogram, the internal iliac artery of the ischemic limb is transfected with 500 mg naked expression plasmid containing a polynucleotide of the invention by arterial gene transfer technology using a hydrogel-coated balloon catheter as described (Riessen et al. Hum Gene Ther. 4:749-758 (1993); Leclerc et al. J. Clin. Invest. 90: 936-944 (1992)). When a polypeptide of the invention is used in the treatment, a single bolus of 500 mg polypeptide of the invention or control is delivered into the internal iliac artery of the ischemic limb over a period of 1 min. through an infusion catheter. On day 30, various parameters are measured in these rabbits: (a) BP ratio—The blood pressure ratio of systolic pressure of the ischemic limb to that of normal limb; (b) Blood Flow and Flow Reserve—Resting FL: the blood flow during undilated condition and Max FL: the blood flow during fully dilated condition (also an indirect measure of the blood vessel amount) and Flow Reserve is reflected by the ratio of max FL: resting FL; (c) Angiographic Score—This is measured by the angiogram of collateral vessels. A score is determined by the percentage of circles in an overlaying grid that with crossing opacified arteries divided by the total number m the rabbit thigh; (d) Capillary density—The number of collateral capillaries determined in light microscopic sections taken from hindlimbs.

[1203] The studies described in this example tested activity of polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 45 Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on Vasodilation

[1204] Since dilation of vascular endothelium is important in reducing blood pressure, the ability of polypeptides of the invention to affect the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is examined. Increasing doses (0, 10, 30, 100, 300, and 900 mg/kg) of the polypeptides of the invention are administered to 13-14 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Data are expressed as the mean +/− SEM. Statistical analysis are performed with a paired t-test and statistical significance is defined as p<0.05 vs. the response to buffer alone.

[1205] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 46 Rat Ischemic Skin Flap Model

[1206] The evaluation parameters include skin blood flow, skin temperature, and factor VIII immunohistochemistry or endothel ial alkaline phosphatase reaction. Expression of polypeptides of the invention, during the skin ischemia, is studied using in situ hybridization.

[1207] The study in this model is divided into three parts as follows:

[1208] a) Ischemic skin

[1209] b) Ischemic skin wounds

[1210] c) Normal wounds

[1211] The experimental protocol includes:

[1212] a) Raising a 3×4 cm, single pedicle full-thickness random skin flap (myocutaneous flap over the lower back of the animal).

[1213] b) An excisional wounding (4-6 mm in diameter) in the ischemic skin (skin-flap).

[1214] c) Topical treatment with a polypeptide of the invention of the excisional wounds (day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 post-wounding) at the following various dosage ranges: lmg to 100 mg.

[1215] d) Harvesting the wound tissues at day 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 post-wounding for histological, immunohistochemical, and in situ studies.

[1216] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 47 Peripheral Arterial Disease Model

[1217] Angiogenic therapy using a polypeptide of the invention is a novel therapeutic strategy to obtain restoration of blood flow around the ischemia in case of peripheral arterial diseases. The experimental protocol includes:

[1218] a) One side of the femoral artery is ligated to create ischernic muscle of the hindlimb, the other side of hindlimb serves as a control.

[1219] b) a polypeptide of the invention, in a dosage range of 20 mg-500 mg, is delivered intravenously and/or intramuscularly 3 times (perhaps more) per week for 2-3 weeks.

[1220] c) The ischemic muscle tissue is collected after ligation of the femoral artery at 1, 2, and 3 weeks for the analysis of expression of a polypeptide of the invention and histology. Biopsy is also performed on the other side of normal muscle of the contralateral hindlimb.

[1221] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 48 Ischemic Myocardial Disease Model

[1222] A polypeptide of the invention is evaluated as a potent mitogen capable of stimulating the development of collateral vessels, and restructuring new vessels after coronary artery occlusion. Alteration of expression of the polypeptide is investigated in situ. The experimental protocol includes:

[1223] a) The heart is exposed through a left-side thoracotomy in the rat. Immediately, the left coronary artery is occluded with a thin suture (6-0) and the thorax is closed.

[1224] b) a polypeptide of the invention, in a dosage range of 20 mg-500 mg, is delivered intravenously and/or intramuscularly 3 times (perhaps more) per week for 2-4 weeks.

[1225] c) Thirty days after the surgery, the heart is removed and cross-sectioned for morphometric and in situ analyzes.

[1226] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 49 Rat Corneal Wound Healing Model

[1227] This animal model shows the effect of a polypeptide of the invention on neovascularization. The experimental protocol includes:

[1228] a) Making a 1-1.5 mm long incision from the center of cornea into the stromal layer.

[1229] b) Inserting a spatula below the lip of the incision facing the outer corner of the eye.

[1230] c) Making a pocket (its base is 1-1.5 mm form the edge of the eye).

[1231] d) Positioning a pellet, containing 50 ng-5 ug of a polypeptide of the invention, within the pocket.

[1232] e) Treatment with a polypeptide of the invention can also be applied topically to the corneal wounds in a dosage range of 20 mg-500 mg (daily treatment for five days).

[1233] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 50 Diabetic Mouse and Glucocorticoid-impaired Wound Healing Models

[1234] A. Diabetic db+/db+ Mouse Model.

[1235] To demonstrate that a polypeptide of the invention accelerates the healing process, the genetically diabetic mouse model of wound healing is used. The full thickness wound healing model in the db+/db+ mouse is a well characterized, clinically relevant and reproducible model of impaired wound healing. Healing of the diabetic wound is dependent on formation of granulation tissue and re-epithelialization rather than contraction (Gartner, M.H. et al., J. Surg. Res. 52:389 (1992); Greenhalgh, D. G. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 136:1235 (1990)).

[1236] The diabetic animals have many of the characteristic features observed in Type II diabetes mellitus. Homozygous (db+/db+) mice are obese in comparison to their normal heterozygous (db+/+m) littermates. Mutant diabetic (db+/db+) mice have a single autosomal recessive mutation on chromosome 4 (db+) (Coleman et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:283-293 (1982)). Animals show polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria. Mutant diabetic mice (db+/db+) have elevated blood glucose, increased or normal insulin levels, and suppressed cell-mediated immunity (Mandel et al., J. Immunol. 120:1375 (1978); Debray-Sachs, M. et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 51(1):1-7 (1983); Leiter et al., Am. J. of Pathol. 114:46-55 (1985)). Peripheral neuropathy, myocardial complications, and microvascular lesions, basement membrane thickening and glomerular filtration abnormalities have been described in these animals (Norido, F. et al., Exp. Neurol. 83(2):221-232 (1984); Robertson et al., Diabetes 29(1):60-67 (1980); Giacomelli et al., Lab Invest. 40(4):460473 (1979); Coleman, D. L., Diabetes 31 (Suppl): 1-6 (1982)). These homozygous diabetic mice develop hyperglycemia that is resistant to insulin analogous to human type II diabetes (Mandel et al., J. Immunol. 120:1375-1377 (1978)).

[1237] The characteristics observed in these animals suggests that healing in this model may be similar to the healing observed in human diabetes (Greenhalgh, et al., Am. J. of Pathol. 136:1235-1246 (1990)).

[1238] Genetically diabetic female C57BL/KsJ (db+/db+) mice and their non-diabetic (db+/+m) heterozygous littermates are used in this study (Jackson Laboratories). The animals are purchased at 6 weeks of age and are 8 weeks old at the beginning of the study. Animals are individually housed and received food and water ad libitum. All manipulations are performed using aseptic techniques. The experiments are conducted according to the rules and guidelines of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

[1239] Wounding protocol is performed according to previously reported methods (Tsuboi, R. and Rifkin, D. B., J. Exp. Med. 172:245-251 (1990)). Briefly, on the day of wounding, animals are anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of Avertin (0.01 mg/mL), 2,2,2-tribromoethanol and 2-methyl-2-butanol dissolved in deionized water. The dorsal region of the animal is shaved and the skin washed with 70% ethanol solution and iodine. The surgical area is dried with sterile gauze prior to wounding. An 8 mm full-thickness wound is then created using a Keyes tissue punch. Immediately following wounding, the surrounding skin is gently stretched to eliminate wound expansion. The wounds are left open for the duration of the experiment. Application of the treatment is given topically for 5 consecutive days commencing on the day of wounding. Prior to treatment, wounds are gently cleansed with sterile saline and gauze sponges.

[1240] Wounds are visually examined and photographed at a fixed distance at the day of surgery and at two day intervals thereafter. Wound closure is determined by daily measurement on days 1-5 and on day 8. Wounds are measured horizontally and vertically using a calibrated Jameson caliper. Wounds are considered healed if granulation tissue is no longer visible and the wound is covered by a continuous epithelium.

[1241] A polypeptide of the invention is administered using at a range different doses, from 4 mg to 500 mg per wound per day for 8 days in vehicle. Vehicle control groups received 50 mL of vehicle solution.

[1242] Animals are euthanized on day 8 with an intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital (300 mg/kg). The wounds and surrounding skin are then harvested for histology and immunohistochemistry. Tissue specimens are placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin in tissue cassettes between biopsy sponges for further processing.

[1243] Three groups of 10 animals each (5 diabetic and 5 non-diabetic controls) are evaluated: 1) Vehicle placebo control, 2) untreated group, and 3) treated group.

[1244] Wound closure is analyzed by measuring the area in the vertical and horizontal axis and obtaining the total square area of the wound. Contraction is then estimated by establishing the differences between the initial wound area (day 0) and that of post treatment (day 8). The wound area on day 1 is 64 mm², the corresponding size of the dermal punch. Calculations are made using the following formula:

[Open area on day 8]−[Open area on day 1][Open area on day 1]

[1245] Specimens are fixed in 10% buffered formalin and paraffin embedded blocks are sectioned perpendicular to the wound surface (5 mm) and cut using a Reichert-Jung microtome. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining is performed on cross-sections of bisected wounds. Histologic examination of the wounds are used to assess whether the healing process and the morphologic appearance of the repaired skin is altered by treatment with a polypeptide of the invention. This assessment included verification of the presence of cell accumulation, inflammatory cells, capillaries, fibroblasts, re-epithelialization and epidermal maturity (Greenhalgh, D. G. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 136:1235 (1990)). A calibrated lens micrometer is used by a blinded observer.

[1246] Tissue sections are also stained immunohistochemically with a polyclonal rabbit anti-human keratin antibody using ABC Elite detection system. Human skin is used as a positive tissue control while non-immune IgG is used as a negative control. Keratinocyte growth is determined by evaluating the extent of reepithelialization of the wound using a calibrated lens micrometer.

[1247] Proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin (PCNA) in skin specimens is demonstrated by using anti-PCNA antibody (1:50) with an ABC Elite detection system. Human colon cancer can serve as a positive tissue control and human brain tissue can be used as a negative tissue control. Each specimen includes a section with omission of the primary antibody and substitution with non-immune mouse IgG. Ranking of these sections is based on the extent of proliferation on a scale of 0-8, the lower side of the scale reflecting slight proliferation to the higher side reflecting intense proliferation.

[1248] Experimental data are analyzed using an unpaired t test. A p value of <0.05 is considered significant.

[1249] B. Steroid Impaired Rat Model

[1250] The inhibition of wound healing by steroids has been well documented in various in vitro and in vivo systems (Wahl, Glucocorticoids and Wound healing. In: Anti-Inflammatory Steroid Action: Basic and Clinical Aspects. 280-302 (1989); Wahlet al., J. Immunol. 115: 476-481 (1975); Werb et al., J. Exp. Med. 147:1684-1694 (1978)). Glucocorticoids retard wound healing by inhibiting angiogenesis, decreasing vascular permeability (Ebert et al., An. Intern. Med. 37:701-705 (1952)), fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis (Beck et al., Growth Factors. 5: 295-304 (1991); Haynes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 61: 703-797 (1978)) and producing a transient reduction of circulating monocytes (Haynes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 61: 703-797 (1978); Wahl, “Glucocorticoids and wound healing”, In: Antiinflammatory Steroid Action: Basic and Clinical Aspects, Academic Press, New York, pp. 280-302 (1989)). The systemic administration of steroids to impaired wound healing is a well establish phenomenon in rats (Beck et al., Growth Factors. 5: 295-304 (1991); Haynes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 61: 703-797 (1978); Wahl, “Glucocorticoids and wound healing”, In: Antiinflammatory Steroid Action: Basic and Clinical Aspects, Academic Press, New York, pp. 280-302 (1989); Pierce et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2229-2233 (1989)).

[1251] To demonstrate that a polypeptide of the invention can accelerate the healing process, the effects of multiple topical applications of the polypeptide on full thickness excisional skin wounds in rats in which healing has been impaired by the systemic administration of methylprednisolone is assessed.

[1252] Young adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g (Charles River Laboratories) are used in this example. The animals are purchased at 8 weeks of age and are 9 weeks old at the beginning of the study. The healing response of rats is impaired by the systemic administration of methylprednisolone (17 mg/kg/rat intramuscularly) at the time of wounding. Animals are individually housed and received food and water ad libitum. All manipulations are performed using aseptic techniques. This study is conducted according to the rules and guidelines of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

[1253] The wounding protocol is followed according to section A, above. On the day of wounding, animals are anesthetized with an intramuscular injection of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg). The dorsal region of the animal is shaved and the skin washed with 70% ethanol and iodine solutions. The surgical area is dried with sterile gauze prior to wounding. An 8 mm full-thickness wound is created using a Keyes tissue punch. The wounds are left open for the duration of the experiment. Applications of the testing materials are given topically once a day for 7 consecutive days commencing on the day of wounding and subsequent to methylprednisolone administration. Prior to treatment, wounds are gently cleansed with sterile saline and gauze sponges.

[1254] Wounds are visually examined and photographed at a fixed distance at the day of wounding and at the end of treatment. Wound closure is determined by daily measurement on days 1-5 and on day 8. Wounds are measured horizontally and vertically using a calibrated Jameson caliper. Wounds are considered healed if granulation tissue is no longer visible and the wound is covered by a continuous epithelium.

[1255] The polypeptide of the invention is administered using at a range different doses, from 4 mg to 500 mg per wound per day for 8 days in vehicle. Vehicle control groups received 50 mL of vehicle solution.

[1256] Animals are euthanized on day 8 with an intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital (300 mg/kg). The wounds and surrounding skin are then harvested for histology. Tissue specimens are placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin in tissue cassettes between biopsy sponges for further processing.

[1257] Four groups of 10 animals each (5 with methylprednisolone and 5 without glucocorticoid) are evaluated: 1) Untreated group 2) Vehicle placebo control 3) treated groups.

[1258] Wound closure is analyzed by measuring the area in the vertical and horizontal axis and obtaining the total area of the wound. Closure is then estimated by establishing the differences between the initial wound area (day 0) and that of post treatment (day 8). The wound area on day 1 is 64 mm², the corresponding size of the dermal punch. Calculations are made using the following formula:

[Open area on day 8]−[Open area on day 1]/[Open area on day 1]

[1259] Specimens are fixed in 10% buffered formalin and paraffin embedded blocks are sectioned perpendicular to the wound surface (5 mm) and cut using an Olympus microtome. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining is performed on cross-sections of bisected wounds. Histologic examination of the wounds allows assessment of whether the healing process and the morphologic appearance of the repaired skin is improved by treatment with a polypeptide of the invention. A calibrated lens micrometer is used by a blinded observer to determine the distance of the wound gap.

[1260] Experimental data are analyzed using an unpaired t test. A p value of <0.05 is considered significant.

[1261] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 51 Lymphadema Animal Model

[1262] or The purpose of this experimental approach is to create an appropriate and consistent lymphedema model for testing the therapeutic effects of a polypeptide of the invention in lymphangiogenesis and re-establishment of the lymphatic circulatory system in the rat hind limb. Effectiveness is measured by swelling volume of the affected limb, quantification of the amount of lymphatic vasculature, total blood plasma protein, and histopathology. Acute lymphedema is observed for 7-10 days. Perhaps more importantly, the chronic progress of the edema is followed for up to 34 weeks.

[1263] Prior to beginning surgery, blood sample is drawn for protein concentration analysis. Male rats weighing approximately ˜350 g are dosed with Pentobarbital. Subsequently, the right legs are shaved from knee to hip. The shaved area is swabbed with gauze soaked in 70% EtOH. Blood is drawn for serum total protein testing. Circumference and volumetric measurements are made prior to injecting dye into paws after marking 2 measurement levels (0.5 cm above heel, at mid-pt of dorsal paw). The intradermal dorsum of both right and left paws are injected with 0.05 ml of 1% Evan's Blue. Circumference and volumetric measurements are then made following injection of dye into paws.

[1264] Using the knee joint as a landmark, a mid-leg inguinal incision is made circumferentially allowing the femoral vessels to be located. Forceps and hemostats are used to dissect and separate the skin flaps. After locating the femoral vessels, the lymphatic vessel that runs along side and underneath the vessel(s) is located. The main lymphatic vessels in this area are then electrically coagulated suture ligated.

[1265] Using a microscope, muscles in back of the leg (near the semitendinosis and adductors) are bluntly dissected. The popliteal lymph node is then located. The 2 proximal and 2 distal lymphatic vessels and distal blood supply of the popliteal node are then and ligated by suturing. The popliteal lymph node, and any accompanying adipose tissue, is then removed by cutting connective tissues.

[1266] Care is taken to control any mild bleeding resulting from this procedure. After lymphatics are occluded, the skin flaps are sealed by using liquid skin (Vetbond) (AJ Buck). The separated skin edges are sealed to the underlying muscle tissue while leaving a gap of 0.5 cm around the leg. Skin also may be anchored by suturing to underlying muscle when necessary.

[1267] To avoid infection, animals are housed individually with mesh (no bedding). Recovering animals are checked daily through the optimal edematous peak, which typically occurred by day 5-7. The plateau edematous peak are then observed. To evaluate the intensity of the lymphedema, the circumference and volumes of 2 designated places on each paw before operation and daily for 7 days are measured. The effect plasma proteins on lymphedema is determined and whether protein analysis is a useful testing perimeter is also investigated. The weights of both control and edematous limbs are evaluated at 2 places. Analysis is performed in a blind manner.

[1268] Circumference Measurements: Under brief gas anesthetic to prevent limb movement, a cloth tape is used to measure limb circumference. Measurements are done at the ankle bone and dorsal paw by 2 different people then those 2 readings are averaged. Readings are taken from both control and edematous limbs.

[1269] Volumetric Measurements: On the day of surgery, animals are anesthetized with Pentobarbital and are tested prior to surgery. For daily volumetrics animals are under brief halothane anesthetic (rapid immobilization and quick recovery), both legs are shaved and equally marked using waterproof marker on legs. Legs are first dipped in water, then dipped into instrument to each marked level then measured by Buxco edema software(Chen/Victor). Data is recorded by one person, while the other is dipping the limb to marked area.

[1270] Blood-plasma protein measurements: Blood is drawn, spun, and serum separated prior to surgery and then at conclusion for total protein and Ca2+comparison.

[1271] Limb Weight Comparison: After drawing blood, the animal is prepared for tissue collection. The limbs are amputated using a quillitine, then both experimental and control legs are cut at the ligature and weighed. A second weighing is done as the tibio-cacaneal joint is disarticulated and the foot is weighed.

[1272] Histological Preparations: The transverse muscle located behind the knee (popliteal) area is dissected and arranged in a metal mold, filled with freezeGel, dipped into cold methylbutane, placed into labeled sample bags at −80EC until sectioning. Upon sectioning, the muscle is observed under fluorescent microscopy for lymphatics.

[1273] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 52 Suppression of TNF Alpha-induced Adhesion Molecule Expression by a Polypeptide of the Invention

[1274] The recruitment of lymphocytes to areas of inflammation and angiogenesis involves specific receptor-ligand interactions between cell surface adhesion molecules (CAMs) on lymphocytes and the vascular endothelium. The adhesion process, in both normal and pathological settings, follows a multi-step cascade that involves intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin) expression on endothelial cells (EC). The expression of these molecules and others on the vascular endothelium determines the efficiency with which leukocytes may adhere to the local vasculature and extravasate into the local tissue during the development of an inflammatory response. The local concentration of cytokines and growth factor participate in the modulation of the expression of these CAMs.

[1275] Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, is a stimulator of all three CAMs on endothelial cells and may be involved in a wide variety of inflammatory responses, often resulting in a pathological outcome.

[1276] The potential of a polypeptide of the invention to mediate a suppression of TNF-a induced CAM expression can be examined. A modified ELISA assay which uses ECs as a solid phase absorbent is employed to measure the amount of CAM expression on TNF-a treated ECs when co-stimulated with a member of the FGF family of proteins.

[1277] To perform the experiment, human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures are obtained from pooled cord harvests and maintained in growth medium (EGM-2; Clonetics, San Diego, Calif.) supplemented with 10% FCS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin in a 37 degree C. humidified incubator containing 5% CO₂. HUVECs are seeded in 96-well plates at concentrations of 1×10⁴ cells/well in EGM medium at 37 degree C. for 18-24 hrs or until confluent. The monolayers are subsequently washed 3 times with a serum-free solution of RPMI-1640 supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 mg/ml streptomycin, and treated with a given cytokine and/or growth factor(s) for 24 h at 37 degree C. Following incubation, the cells are then evaluated for CAM expression.

[1278] Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs) are grown in a standard 96 well plate to confluence. Growth medium is removed from the cells and replaced with 90 ul of 199 Medium (10% FBS). Samples for testing and positive or negative controls are added to the plate in triplicate (in 10 ul volumes). Plates are incubated at 37 degree C. for either 5 h (selectin and integrin expression) or 24 h (integrin expression only). Plates are aspirated to remove medium and 100 μl of 0. 1% paraformaldehyde-PBS(with Ca++ and Mg++) is added to each well. Plates are held at 4° C. for 30 min.

[1279] Fixative is then removed from the wells and wells are washed 1× with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA and drained. Do not allow the wells to dry. Add 10 μl of diluted primary antibody to the test and control wells. Anti-ICAM-1-Biotin, Anti-VCAM-1-Biotin and Anti-E-selectin-Biotin are used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml (1:10 dilution of 0.1 mg/ml stock antibody). Cells are incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. in a humidified environment. Wells are washed ×3 with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA.

[1280] Then add 20 yl of diluted ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase (1:5,000 dilution) to each well and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. Wells are washed ×3 with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA. 1 tablet of p-Nitrophenol Phosphate pNPP is dissolved in 5 ml of glycine buffer (pH 10.4). 100 μl of pNPP substrate in glycine buffer is added to each test well. Standard wells in triplicate are prepared from the working dilution of the ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase in glycine buffer: 1:5,000 (10⁰)>10^(−0.5)>10⁻¹>10^(−1.5).5.5 μl of each dilution is added to triplicate wells and the resulting AP content in each well is 5.50 ng, 1.74 ng, 0.55 ng, 0.18 ng. 100 μl of pNNP reagent must then be added to each of the standard wells. The plate must be incubated at 37° C. for 4 h. A volume of 50 μl of 3M NaOH is added to all wells. The results are quantified on a plate reader at 405 nm. The background subtraction option is used on blank wells filled with glycine buffer only. The template is set up to indicate the concentration of AP-conjugate in each standard well [5.50 ng; 1.74 ng; 0.55 ng; 0.18 ng]. Results are indicated as amount of bound AP-conjugate in each sample.

[1281] The studies described in this example tested activity of a polypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 53 Assay for the Stimulation of Bone Marrow CD34+ Cell Proliferation

[1282] This assay is based on the ability of human CD34+to proliferate in the presence of hematopoietic growth factors and evaluates the ability of isolated polypeptides expressed in mammalian cells to stimulate proliferation of CD34+ cells.

[1283] It has been previously shown that most mature precursors will respond to only a single signal. More immature precursors require at least two signals to respond. Therefore, to test the effect of polypeptides on hematopoietic activity of a wide range of progenitor cells, the assay contains a given polypeptide in the presence or absence of other hematopoietic growth factors. Isolated cells are cultured for 5 days in the presence of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) in combination with tested sample. SCF alone has a very limited effect on the proliferation of bone marrow (BM) cells, acting in such conditions only as a “survival” factor. However, combined with any factor exhibiting stimulatory effect on these cells (e.g., IL-3), SCF will cause a synergistic effect. Therefore, if the tested polypeptide has a stimulatory effect on a hematopoietic progenitors, such activity can be easily detected. Since normal BM cells have a low level of cycling cells, it is likely that any inhibitory effect of a given polypeptide, or agonists or antagonists thereof, might not be detected. Accordingly, assays for an inhibitory effect on progenitors is preferably tested in cells that are first subjected to in vitro stimulation with SCF+IL+3, and then contacted with the compound that is being evaluated for inhibition of such induced proliferation.

[1284] Briefly, CD34+ cells are isolated using methods known in the art. The cells are thawed and resuspended in medium (QBSF 60 serum-free medium with 1% L-glutamine (500 ml) Quality Biological, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. Cat# 160-204-101). After several gentle centrifugation steps at 200× g, cells are allowed to rest for one hour. The cell count is adjusted to 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. During this time, 100 μl of sterile water is added to the peripheral wells of a 96-well plate. The cytokines that can be tested with a given polypeptide in this assay is rhSCF (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., Cat# 255-SC) at 50 ng/ml alone and in combination with rhSCF and rhIL-3 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., Cat# 203-ML) at 30 ng/ml. After one hour, 10 μl of prepared cytokines, 50 μl SID (supernatants at 1:2 dilution =50 μl) and 20 μl of diluted cells are added to the media which is already present in the wells to allow for a final total volume of 100 μl. The plates are then placed in a 37° C./5% CO₂ incubator for five days.

[1285] Eighteen hours before the assay is harvested, 0.5 μCi/well of [3H] Thymidine is added in a 10 μl volume to each well to determine the proliferation rate. The experiment is terminated by harvesting the cells from each 96-well plate to a filtermat using the Tomtec Harvester 96. After harvesting, the filtermats are dried, trimmed and placed into OmniFilter assemblies consisting of one OmniFilter plate and one OmniFilter Tray. 60 μl Microscint is added to each well and the plate sealed with TopSeal-A press-on sealing film A bar code 15 sticker is affixed to the first plate for counting. The sealed plates is then loaded and the level of radioactivity determined via the Packard Top Count and the printed data collected for analysis. The level of radioactivity reflects the amount of cell proliferation.

[1286] The studies described in this example test the activity of a given polypeptide to stimulate bone marrow CD34+ cell proliferation. One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variants thereof. As a nonlimiting example, potential antagonists tested in this assay would be expected to inhibit cell proliferation in the presence of cytokines and/or to increase the inhibition of cell proliferation in the presence of cytokines and a given polypeptide. In contrast, potential agonists tested in this assay would be expected to enhance cell proliferation and/or to decrease the inhibition of cell proliferation in the presence of cytokines and a given polypeptide.

[1287] The ability of a gene to stimulate the proliferation of bone marrow CD34+ cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to the gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the immune system and hematopoiesis. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections above, and elsewhere herein.

Example 54 Assay for Extracellular Matrix Enhanced Cell Response (EMECR)

[1288] The objective of the Extracellular Matrix Enhanced Cell Response (EMECR) assay is to identify gene products (e.g., isolated polypeptides) that act on the hematopoietic stem cells in the context of the extracellular matrix (ECM) induced signal.

[1289] Cells respond to the regulatory factors in the context of signal(s) received from the surrounding microenvironment. For example, fibroblasts, and endothelial and epithelial stem cells fail to replicate in the absence of signals from the ECM. Hematopoietic stem cells can undergo self-renewal in the bone marrow, but not in in vitro suspension culture. The ability of stem cells to undergo self-renewal in vitro is dependent upon their interaction with the stromal cells and the ECM protein fibronectin (fn). Adhesion of cells to fn is mediated by the α₅β₁ and α₄.β₁ integrin receptors, which are expressed by human and mouse hematopoietic stem cells. The factor(s) which integrate with the ECM environment and responsible for stimulating stem cell self-renewal has not yet been identified. Discovery of such factors should be of great interest in gene therapy and bone marrow transplant applications Briefly, polystyrene, non tissue culture treated, 96-well plates are coated with fn fragment at a coating concentration of 0.2 μg/cm². Mouse bone marrow cells are plated (1,000 cells/well) in 0.2 ml of serum-free medium. Cells cultured in the presence of IL-3 (5 ng/ml)+SCF (50 ng/ml) would serve as the positive control, conditions under which little self-renewal but pronounced differentiation of the stem cells is to be expected. Gene products are tested with appropriate negative controls in the presence and absence of SCF(5.0 ng/ml), where test factor supernates represent 10% of the total assay volume. The plated cells are then allowed to grow by incubating in a low oxygen environment (5% CO₂, 7% O₂, and 88% N₂) tissue culture incubator for 7 days. The number of proliferating cells within the wells is then quantitated by measuring thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA. Verification of the positive hits in the assay will require phenotypic characterization of the cells, which can be accomplished by scaling up of the culture system and using appropriate antibody reagents against cell surface antigens and FACScan.

[1290] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variants thereof.

[1291] If a particular gene product is found to be a stimulator of hematopoietic progenitors, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to the gene may be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the immune system and hematopoiesis. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections above, and elsewhere herein. The gene product may also be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committed progenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/or proliferation of various cell types.

[1292] Additionally, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the gene of interest and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof, may also be employed to inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and therefore may be employed to protect bone marrow stem cells from chemotherapeutic agents during chemotherapy. This antiproliferative effect may allow administration of higher doses of chemotherapeutic agents and, therefore, more effective chemotherapeutic treatment.

[1293] Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to the gene of interest may also be useful for the treatment and diagnosis of hematopoietic related disorders such as, for example, anemia, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromal cells are important in the production of cells of hematopoietic lineages. The uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrow transplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy or chemotherapy of neoplasia.

Example 55 Human Dermal Fibroblast and Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

[1294] The polypeptide of interest is added to cultures of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMC) and two co-assays are performed with each sample. The first assay examines the effect of the polypeptide of interest on the proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) or aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMC). Aberrant growth of fibroblasts or smooth muscle cells is a part of several pathological processes, including fibrosis, and restenosis. The second assay examines IL6 production by both NHDF and SMC. IL6 production is an indication of functional activation. Activated cells will have increased production of a number of cytokines and other factors, which can result in a proinflammatory or immunomodulatory outcome. Assays are run with and without co-TNFa stimulation, in order to check for costimulatory or inhibitory activity.

[1295] Briefly, on day 1, 96-well black plates are set up with 1000 cells/well (NHDF) or 2000 cells/well (AoSMC) in 100 μl culture media. NHDF culture media contains: Clonetics FB basal media, lmg/ml hFGF, 5 mg/ml insulin, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 2%FBS, while AoSMC culture media contains Clonetics SM basal media, 0.5 μg/ml hEGF, 5 mg/ml insulin, 1 μg/ml hFGF, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 50 μg/ml Amphotericin B, 5%FBS. After incubation@37° C. for at least 45 hours culture media is aspirated and replaced with growth arrest media. Growth arrest media for NHDF contains fibroblast basal media, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 2% FBS, while growth arrest media for AoSMC contains SM basal media, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 50 μg/ml Amphotericin B, 0.4% FBS. Incubate at 37 C until day 2.

[1296] On day 2, serial dilutions and templates of the polypeptide of interest are designed which should always include media controls and known-protein controls. For both stimulation and inhibition experiments, proteins are diluted in growth arrest media. For inhibition experiments, TNFa is added to a final concentration of 2 ng/ml (NHDF) or Sng/ml (AoSMC). Then add {fraction (1/3)} vol media containing controls or supernatants and incubate at 37 C/5% CO₂ until day 5.

[1297] Transfer 60 μl from each well to another labeled 96-well plate, cover with a plate-sealer, and store at 4 C until Day 6 (for IL6 ELISA). To the remaining 100 μl in the cell culture plate, aseptically add Alamar Blue in an amount equal to 10% of the culture volume (10 μl). Return plates to incubator for 3 to 4 hours. Then measure fluorescence with excitation at 530 nm and emission at 590 nm using the CytoFluor. This yields the growth stimulation/inhibition data.

[1298] On day 5, the IL6 ELISA is performed by coating a 96 well plate with 50-100 ul/well of Anti-Human IL6 Monoclonal antibody diluted in PBS, pH 7.4, incubate ON at room temperature.

[1299] On day 6, empty the plates into the sink and blot on paper towels. Prepare Assay Buffer containing PBS with 4% BSA. Block the plates with 200 μl/well of Pierce Super Block blocking buffer in PBS for 1-2 hr and then wash plates with wash buffer (PBS, 0.05% Tween-20). Blot plates on paper towels. Then add 50 μl/well of diluted Anti-Human IL-6 Monoclonal, Biotin-labeled antibody at 0.50 mg/ml. Make dilutions of IL-6 stock in media (30, 10, 3, 1, 0.3, 0 ng/ml). Add duplicate samples to top row of plate. Cover the plates and incubate for 2 hours at RT on shaker.

[1300] Wash plates with wash buffer and blot on paper towels. Dilute EU-labeled Streptavidin 1:1000 in Assay buffer, and add 100 μl/well. Cover the plate and incubate 1 h at RT. Wash plates with wash buffer. Blot on paper towels.

[1301] Add 100 μl/well of Enhancement Solution. Shake for 5 minutes. Read the plate on the Wallac DELFIA Fluorometer. Readings from triplicate samples in each assay were tabulated and averaged.

[1302] A positive result in this assay suggests AoSMC cell proliferation and that the gene product of interest may be involved in dermal fibroblast proliferation and/or smooth muscle cell proliferation. A positive result also suggests many potential uses of polypeptides, polynucleotides, agonists and/or antagonists of the gene/gene product of interest. For example, inflammation and immune responses, wound healing, and angiogenesis, as detailed throughout this specification. Particularly, polypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides of the gene may be used in wound healing and dermal regeneration, as well as the promotion of vasculargenesis, both of the blood vessels and lymphatics. The growth of vessels can be used in the treatment of, for example, cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, antagonists of polypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides of the gene may be useful in treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions which involve angiogenesis by acting as an anti-vascular (e.g., anti-angiogenesis). These diseases, disorders, and/or conditions are known in the art and/or are described herein, such as, for example, malignancies, solid tumors, benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artheroscleric plaques; ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, uvietis and Pterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) of the eye; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing; endometriosis; vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars (keloids); nonunion fractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascular adhesions; myocardial angiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebral collaterals; arteriovenous malformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis; Osler-Webber Syndrome; plaque neovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma; fibromuscular dysplasia; wound granulation; Crohn's disease; and atherosclerosis. Moreover, antagonists of polypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides of the gene may be useful in treating anti-hyperproliferative diseases and/or anti-inflammatory known in the art and/or described herein.

[1303] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variants thereof.

Example 56 Cellular Adhesion Molecule (CAM) Expression on Endothelial Cells

[1304] The recruitment of lymphocytes to areas of inflammation and angiogenesis involves specific receptor-ligand interactions between cell surface adhesion molecules (CAMs) on lymphocytes and the vascular endothelium. The adhesion process, in both normal and pathological settings, follows a multi-step cascade that involves intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin) expression on endothelial cells (EC). The expression of these molecules and others on the vascular endothelium determines the efficiency with which leukocytes may adhere to the local vasculature and extravasate into the local tissue during the development of an inflammatory response. The local concentration of cytokines and growth factor participate in the modulation of the expression of these CAMs.

[1305] Briefly, endothelial cells (e.g., Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs)) are grown in a standard 96 well plate to confluence, growth medium is removed from the cells and replaced with 100 μl of 199 Medium (10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)). Samples for testing and positive or negative controls are added to the plate in triplicate (in 10 μl volumes). Plates are then incubated at 37° C. for either 5 h (selectin and integrin expression) or 24 h (integrin expression only). Plates are aspirated to remove medium and 100 μl of 0.1% paraformaldehyde-PBS(with Ca++ and Mg++) is added to each well. Plates are held at 4° C. for 30 min. Fixative is removed from the wells and wells are washed 1× with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA and drained. 10 μl of diluted primary antibody is added to the test and control wells. Anti-ICAM-1-Biotin, Anti-VCAM-1-Biotin and Anti-E-selectin-Biotin are used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml (1:10 dilution of 0.1 mg/ml stock antibody). Cells are incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. in a humidified environment. Wells are washed three times with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA. 20 yl of diluted ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase (1:5,000 dilution, refered to herein as the working dilution) are added to each well and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. Wells are washed three times with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA. Dissolve 1 tablet of p-Nitrophenol Phosphate pNPP per 5 ml of glycine buffer (pH 10.4). 100 μl of pNPP substrate in glycine buffer is added to each test well. Standard wells in triplicate are prepared from the working dilution of the ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase in glycine buffer: 1:5,000 (10⁰)>10^(−0.5)>10⁻¹>10^(−1.5).5 μl of each dilution is added to triplicate wells and the resulting AP content in each well is 5.50 ng, 1.74 ng, 0.55 ng, 0.18 ng. 100 μl of pNNP reagent is then added to each of the standard wells. The plate is incubated at 37° C. for 4 h. A volume of 50 μl of 3M NaOH is added to all wells. The plate is read on a plate reader at 405 nm using the background subtraction option on blank wells filled with glycine buffer only. Additionally, the template is set up to indicate the concentration of AP-conjugate in each standard well [5.50 ng; 1.74 ng; 0.55 ng; 0.18 ng]. Results are indicated as amount of bound AP-conjugate in each sample.

Example 57 Alamar Blue Endothelial Cells Proliferation Assay

[1306] This assay may be used to quantitatively determine protein mediated inhibition of bFGF-induced proliferation of Bovine Lymphatic Endothelial Cells (LECs), Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells (BAECs) or Human Microvascular Uterine Myometrial Cells (UTMECs). This assay incorporates a fluorometric growth indicator based on detection of metabolic activity. A standard Alamar Blue Proliferation Assay is prepared in EGM-2MV with 10 ng/ml of bFGF added as a source of endothelial cell stimulation. This assay may be used with a variety of endothelial cells with slight changes in growth medium and cell concentration. Dilutions of the protein batches to be tested are diluted as appropriate. Serum-free medium (GIBCO SFM) without bFGF is used as a non-stimulated control and Angiostatin or TSP-1 are included as a known inhibitory controls.

[1307] Briefly, LEC, BAECs or UTMECs are seeded in growth media at a density of 5000 to 2000 cells/well in a 96 well plate and placed at 37-C overnight. After the overnight incubation of the cells, the growth media is removed and replaced with GIBCO EC-SFM. The cells are treated with the appropriate dilutions of the protein of interest or control protein sample(s) (prepared in SFM) in triplicate wells with additional bFGF to a concentration of 10 ng/ml. Once the cells have been treated with the samples, the plate(s) is/are placed back in the 37° C. incubator for three days. After three days 10 ml of stock alamar blue (Biosource Cat# DAL1100) is added to each well and the plate(s) is/are placed back in the 37° C. incubator for four hours. The plate(s) are then read at 530 nm excitation and 590 nm emission using the CytoFluor fluorescence reader. Direct output is recorded in relative fluorescence units.

[1308] Alamar blue is an oxidation-reduction indicator that both fluoresces and changes color in response to chemical reduction of growth medium resulting from cell growth. As cells grow in culture, innate metabolic activity results in a chemical reduction of the immediate surrounding environment. Reduction related to growth causes the indicator to change from oxidized (non-fluorescent blue) form to reduced (fluorescent red) form. i.e. stimulated proliferation will produce a stronger signal and inhibited proliferation will produce a weaker signal and the total signal is proportional to the total number of cells as well as their metabolic activity. The background level of activity is observed with the starvation medium alone. This is compared to the output observed from the positive control samples (bFGF in growth medium) and protein dilutions.

Example 58 Detection of Inhibition of a Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction

[1309] This assay can be used to detect and evaluate inhibition of a Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) by gene products (e.g., isolated polypeptides). Inhibition of a MLR may be due to a direct effect on cell proliferation and viability, modulation of costimulatory molecules on interacting cells, modulation of adhesiveness between lymphocytes and accessory cells, or modulation of cytokine production by accessory cells. Multiple cells may be targeted by these polypeptides since the peripheral blood mononuclear fraction used in this assay includes T, B and natural killer lymphocytes, as well as monocytes and dendritic cells.

[1310] Polypeptides of interest found to inhibit the MLR may find application in diseases associated with lymphocyte and monocyte activation or proliferation. These include, but are not limited to, diseases such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, inflammatory skin conditions, psoriasis, eczema, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, arteriosclerosis, cirrhosis, graft vs. host disease, host vs. graft disease, hepatitis, leukemia and lymphoma.

[1311] Briefly, PBMCs from human donors are purified by density gradient centrifugation using Lymphocyte Separation Medium (LSM®, density 1.0770 g/ml, Organon Teknika Corporation, West Chester, Pa.). PBMCs from two donors are adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml in RPMI-1640 (Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 10% FCS and 2 mM glutamine. PBMCs from a third donor is adjusted to 2×10⁵ cells/ml. Fifty microliters of PBMCs from each donor is added to wells of a 96-well round bottom microtiter plate. Dilutions of test materials (50 μl) is added in triplicate to microtiter wells. Test samples (of the protein of interest) are added for final dilution of 1:4; rhuIL-2 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., catalog number 202-IL) is added to a final concentration of 1 μg/ml; anti-CD4 mAb (R&D Systems, clone 34930.11, catalog number MAB379) is added to a final concentration of 10 μg/ml. Cells are cultured for 7-8 days at 37° C. in 5% CO₂, and 1 μC of [³H] thymidine is added to wells for the last 16 hrs of culture. Cells are harvested and thymidine incorporation determined using a Packard TopCount. Data is expressed as the mean and standard deviation of triplicate determinations.

[1312] Samples of the protein of interest are screened in separate experiments and compared to the negative control treatment, anti-CD4 mAb, which inhibits proliferation of lymphocytes and the positive control treatment, IL-2 (either as recombinant material or supernatant), which enhances proliferation of lymphocytes.

[1313] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variants thereof.

[1314] It will be clear that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as particularly described in the foregoing description and examples. Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are within the scope of the appended claims.

[1315] The entire disclosure of each document cited (including patents, patent applications, journal articles, abstracts, laboratory manuals, books, or other disclosures) in the Background of the Invention, Detailed Description, and Examples is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Further, the hard copy of the sequence listing submitted herewith and the corresponding computer readable form are both incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

1 231 1 733 DNA Homo sapiens 1 gggatccgga gcccaaatct tctgacaaaa ctcacacatg cccaccgtgc ccagcacctg 60 aattcgaggg tgcaccgtca gtcttcctct tccccccaaa acccaaggac accctcatga 120 tctcccggac tcctgaggtc acatgcgtgg tggtggacgt aagccacgaa gaccctgagg 180 tcaagttcaa ctggtacgtg gacggcgtgg aggtgcataa tgccaagaca aagccgcggg 240 aggagcagta caacagcacg taccgtgtgg tcagcgtcct caccgtcctg caccaggact 300 ggctgaatgg caaggagtac aagtgcaagg tctccaacaa agccctccca acccccatcg 360 agaaaaccat ctccaaagcc aaagggcagc cccgagaacc acaggtgtac accctgcccc 420 catcccggga tgagctgacc aagaaccagg tcagcctgac ctgcctggtc aaaggcttct 480 atccaagcga catcgccgtg gagtgggaga gcaatgggca gccggagaac aactacaaga 540 ccacgcctcc cgtgctggac tccgacggct ccttcttcct ctacagcaag ctcaccgtgg 600 acaagagcag gtggcagcag gggaacgtct tctcatgctc cgtgatgcat gaggctctgc 660 acaaccacta cacgcagaag agcctctccc tgtctccggg taaatgagtg cgacggccgc 720 gactctagag gat 733 2 5 PRT Homo sapiens Site (3) Xaa equals any of the twenty naturally ocurring L-amino acids 2 Trp Ser Xaa Trp Ser 1 5 3 86 DNA Homo sapiens 3 gcgcctcgag atttccccga aatctagatt tccccgaaat gatttccccg aaatgatttc 60 cccgaaatat ctgccatctc aattag 86 4 27 DNA Homo sapiens 4 gcggcaagct ttttgcaaag cctaggc 27 5 271 DNA Homo sapiens 5 ctcgagattt ccccgaaatc tagatttccc cgaaatgatt tccccgaaat gatttccccg 60 aaatatctgc catctcaatt agtcagcaac catagtcccg cccctaactc cgcccatccc 120 gcccctaact ccgcccagtt ccgcccattc tccgccccat ggctgactaa ttttttttat 180 ttatgcagag gccgaggccg cctcggcctc tgagctattc cagaagtagt gaggaggctt 240 ttttggaggc ctaggctttt gcaaaaagct t 271 6 32 DNA Homo sapiens 6 gcgctcgagg gatgacagcg atagaacccc gg 32 7 31 DNA Homo sapiens 7 gcgaagcttc gcgactcccc ggatccgcct c 31 8 12 DNA Homo sapiens 8 ggggactttc cc 12 9 73 DNA Homo sapiens 9 gcggcctcga ggggactttc ccggggactt tccggggact ttccgggact ttccatcctg 60 ccatctcaat tag 73 10 256 DNA Homo sapiens 10 ctcgagggga ctttcccggg gactttccgg ggactttccg ggactttcca tctgccatct 60 caattagtca gcaaccatag tcccgcccct aactccgccc atcccgcccc taactccgcc 120 cagttccgcc cattctccgc cccatggctg actaattttt tttatttatg cagaggccga 180 ggccgcctcg gcctctgagc tattccagaa gtagtgagga ggcttttttg gaggcctagg 240 cttttgcaaa aagctt 256 11 1766 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (14) n equals a,t,g, or c 11 acgggggctt taangggaaa cccttcccgg aatttncggg tcgacccacg cgtccggttt 60 tgtttatgga gggtccagta agtgcaaaca accattgcct ggtcctaagg gttcagagtc 120 cccgaattcc ttcttggacc aggaaagccg gagacgaaga ttcaccattg cagactcgga 180 tcagttgcct gggtactcgg tggaaaccaa cattctgccc acaaaaatga gagagaaaac 240 accatcttat ggcaagccac ggcctttgtc catgcctgct gatgggaact ggatggggat 300 tgtggaccct tttgccagac ctcgaggtca tggcaggaaa ggggaggatg ccctttgccg 360 gtatttcagt aacgagcgga ttcctccgat cattgaagag agctcctctc ccccataccg 420 gttctccaga cccacgaccg agcggcatct ggtccggggt gcggactaca tccgaggaag 480 caggtgctac atcaactcag atctccacag cagcgccacg attccattcc aggaggaagg 540 gaccaaaaag aaatctggct cctcagctac gagtcctcgt ccacagaacc gtccctcctg 600 gtcagctggt ttacgcgcct caaactgttg actcactgag agggaccctg ctcaggccac 660 ctgcctggct cctgscccaa gtgccttgct tttacagtgg acagcctctt ctcgtttcag 720 cctcagtatt atgtagggac cttatgcaat ttctttttct tttgaaaagt tatctactgc 780 ccttcttgga agtttgcagg attggatggg aacaaattca gaggatctta ggtgctggct 840 tgtggagaca aaaggaggga aatgggtaga gcctgtttgt cttgcttccc cagagataga 900 atgtgaagac acgcgctaga aatcgcagtc ctggccagag acgttatggt cattgtgagg 960 gactggtggc attgttcctt tttgaggggc tggggggact caaattggtg gctgttttca 1020 cacagatgtg ttggtttgtg gtccaacttc tttatctgaa aaagccagtg agaaaacatt 1080 tttgatttga tttttctaaa ctatctacca tattttaagt gtagcagctt tgactttgca 1140 ataacgtggc aagtatctga tttctccttt gaggcagagg tttaagtgta ggcctgttac 1200 acttgtttga tacctttttc atgacagtct cagtatagat cagttggtac agaaatacat 1260 gaacacattt tgatagggct tatttcacac aaagaagttt atggttattt gtgtggggtg 1320 gtgttgttat atattattgt ctttaaggga aaagaagcta taagattcgc tgacagccaa 1380 agtatcattt agaaaagtga agcaacaaga tttaggttga tgaaagatac atgagtttgc 1440 attttgacct gttcagtgtc tgtcttccag cacggtgtgt acacttcttc aaaattgtac 1500 acagtttgct aattagaaat atcttggaaa gcctcatggt cactaatttt caactagcat 1560 caggtatttt gaaaacgtgt gtctggatat taactcttgt ttaaactgaa tgtatgatat 1620 tttgttagaa tggaaaagta ctatcttgtt aatttaagta ttttaaatat agttgtatat 1680 ttttcttaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaagggcggc cgctctagag gatcccgcga 1740 ggggccccan attacgcgtg agcgtt 1766 12 2667 DNA Homo sapiens 12 cccgggtcga cccacgcgtc cgcccacgcg tccgaccgag ccctttgtga gggctgtgag 60 ctgcgcctga cggtggcacc atgagcagct caggtggggc gcccggggcg tccgccagct 120 ctgcgccgcc cgcgcaggaa gagggcatga cgtggtggta ccgctggctg tgtcgcctgt 180 ctggggtgct gggggcagtc tcttgcgcga tctctggcct cttcaactgc atcaccatcc 240 accctctgaa cattgcggcc ggcgtgtgga tgatgatggc ggtcgttccc atcgtcatca 300 gcctgaccct gaccacgctg ctgggcaacg ccatcgcctt tgctacgggg gtgctgtacg 360 gactctctgc tctgggcaaa aagggcgatg cgatctccta tgccaggatc cagcagcaga 420 ggcagcaggc ggatgaggag aagctcgcgg agaccctgga gggggagctg tgaagggctg 480 ggcgcccctc cctccctgtc ccctcttctg gctctgtgtg ggtccaagtg aggcctggac 540 tgtccacgct gaggcacagc ctggagaggg gcctttgcac gtgtccctac acctggagtc 600 ctctgctcct ttctccagac tggcttaagc caggagccac tggctgctgg tgtgagggtc 660 tgggctgctg gacttgaggc agagcctgca gcagctgtgt ggacactacc cagccctact 720 cctctgctgg gtgggtctgc agatctcaca ccacagacag ggctgcctgt gacctgctgt 780 gacctgggag cagcttcccc tggagatgct ggtcctggct tgaggggagg ggcaagtggg 840 accctgccac ctgggcactg agcagaggga cctcccccag ctctcttagc aggtggagcc 900 ccagggcctg ggacagcctg ccgctgccag caacctccca ctgctgccta gggtgcagcg 960 cccactgtca ccctgccttc tggagaagcc cacagggctc ctaaggtgca ccccggtacc 1020 tggaactgca gccttggcag tgactggaca gctgggtggg ggatgctccc tgctggccct 1080 gggaaccttg gacaggccac ctcaaggccc ctcggctgcc cctcctccct gggcctgctg 1140 gggcccctag gttctgccca tcaccccccg cccctgctgg ccttggtgct aaggaagtgu 1200 ggagagcagg ctctccctgg caccgagggt gcccaccctc tccctggtgt ggccccgtca 1260 acatcagcca cagcccagcc ccattagtgg gttagtgggt ctgacctcag ccccactcag 1320 gtgctcctgc tggcctgccc aagccctgcc ctcagggagc ttctgccttt taagaactgg 1380 gcagaggcca cagtcacctc cccacacaga gctgtcccca ctgccctggg tgccaggctg 1440 tccggagcca ggcctaccca gggaggatgc agagagctgg tgcccaggat gtgcaccccc 1500 atattccctc tgccctgtgg cctcagcccg ctggcctctc tgaccgtgag gctggctctc 1560 agccatcggg caggtgcctg gtcgggcctg gcttagccca ggtggggttt ggcagaagcg 1620 ggcgggtgtg gaagatattc catctggggc caaccccagg ctgggcctgc gctgagcttc 1680 tggagcgcag gtactgggtc ttgctaagtg aactgtttcc caggaacacc tctcgggccc 1740 atctgcgtct gaggctggga gtggcatctg aggccgggag tggcatctga ggccaggagt 1800 ggcaggctgg tgggctgggc gtggggtttt ctgggccctg cccagtactg ccctggggac 1860 ttggtgggct cctgggtcag cagcatccca cccctgggag tctggccagc tgagccccag 1920 ggtggcaggg gcattatagc ctggtggaca tgtgccttca gggttcctcc ggggccacct 1980 tcctcaggcc agtgctgggt tcaaagggct gtgtgtgtgt gtgtgtgtgt gtgtgtgtgt 2040 gtatgtatat gtgtgtgggt gcacacatct gtcccatgta tgcagtgaga cctgtctacc 2100 tcccacaagg agcaagggct ctgcccgccc tctgctcatt cctacccagg tagtgggacc 2160 ccgggccccc ttctgcctgg cttgcctgct tctgcccttt ccagaggggt ctcactgaca 2220 gccagagaca gcaggagaag ggttggctgt ggatcaagga aggctgcccc tgtaccctgt 2280 ggggaaatgg tgggtgcatg gctggatgca gaggtggaag gccctgggcc acaggcgaga 2340 gtgggcgtgt cacctgtccc aggttcccag caagtctgca gctgtgcagt cctggggtcc 2400 ctgaccctgt cgcccagggg gcgtgctgtc cagcaggggc cctgccttgc aaggaacgtc 2460 tcttccggcg gctgggccgc tcctgcctgg tctgggctgt gtgtggcgcc ctttcctcct 2520 tgtttgttcc tctgtgttct gtgtgcgtct taagcaataa agcgtggccg tggctcgcga 2580 aaaaaaaaaa gaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2640 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 2667 13 2170 DNA Homo sapiens 13 ggcacgaggt ccggtcccaa aggtgggaac gcgtccgccc cggcccgcac catggcacgg 60 ttcggcttgc ccgcgcttct ctgcaccctg gcagtgctca gcgccgcgct gctggctgcc 120 gagctcaagt cgaaaagttg ctcggaagtg cgacgtcttt acgtgtccaa aggcttcaac 180 aagaacgatg cccccctcca cgagatcaac ggtgatcatt tgaagatctg tccccagggt 240 tctacctgct gctctcaaga gatggaggag aagtacagcc tgcaaagtaa agatgatttc 300 aaaagtgtgg tcagcgaaca gtgcaatcat ttgcaagctg tctttgcttc acgttacaag 360 aagtctgatg aattcttcaa agaactactt gaaaatgcag agaaatccct gaatgatatg 420 tttgtgaaga catatggcca tttatacatg caaaattttg agctatttaa agatctcttc 480 gtagagttga aacgttacta cgtggtggga aatgtgaacc tggaagaaat gctaaatgac 540 ttctgggctc gcctcctgga gcggatgttc cgcctggtga actcccagta ccactttaca 600 gatgagtatc tggaatgtgt gagcaagtat acggagcagc tgaagccctt cggagatgtc 660 cctcgcaaat tgaagctcca ggttactcgt gcttttgtag cagcccgtac tttcgctcau 720 ggcttagcgg ttgcgggaga tgtccgtgag caaggtctcc gtggtaaacc ccacagccca 780 gtgtacccat gccctgttga agatgatcta ctgctcccac tgccggggtc tcgtgactgt 840 gaagccatgt tacaactact gctcaaacat catgagaggc tgtttggcca accaagggga 900 tctcgatttt gaatggaaca atttcataga tgctatgctg atggtggcag agaggctaga 960 gggtcctttc aacattgaat cggtcatgga tcccatcgat gtgaagattt ctgatgctat 1020 tatgaacatg caggataata gtgttcaagt gtctcagaag gttttccagg gatgtggacc 1080 ccccaagccc ctcccagctg gacgaatttc tcgttccatc tctgaaagtg ccttcagtgc 1140 tcgcttcaga ccacatcacc ccgaggaacg cccaaccaca gcagctggca ctagtttgga 1200 ccgactggtt actgatgtca aggagaaact gaaacaggcc aagaaattct ggtcctccct 1260 tccgagcaac gtttgcaacg atgagaggat ggctgcagga aacggcaatg aggatgactg 1320 ttggaatggg aaaggcaaaa gcaggtacct gtttgcagtg acaggaaatg gattagccaa 1380 ccagggcaac aacccagagg tccaggttga caccagcaaa ccagacatac tgatccttcg 1440 tcaaatcatg gctcttcgag tgatgaccag caagatgaag aatgcataca atgggaacga 1500 cgtggacttc tttgatatca gtgatgaaag tagtggagaa ggaagtggaa gtggctgtga 1560 gtatcagcag tgcccttcag agtttgacta caatgccact gaccatgctg ggaagagtgc 1620 caatgagaaa gccgacagtg ctggtgtccg tcctggggca caggcctacc tcctcactgt 1680 cttctgcatc ttgttcctgg ttatgcagag agagtggaga taattctcaa actctgagaa 1740 aaagtgttca tcaaaaagtt aaaaggcacc agttatcact tttctaccat cctagtgact 1800 ttgcttttta aatgaatgga caacaatgta cagtttttac tatgtggcca ctggtttaag 1860 aagtgctgac tttgtttctc attcagtttt gggaggaaaa gggactgtgc attgagttgg 1920 ttcctgctcc ccaaaccatg ttaaacgtgg ctacagtgta ggtacagaac tatagttagt 1980 tgtgcatttg tgattttatc actctattat ttgtttgtat gtttttttct catttcgttt 2040 gtgggttttt ttttccaact gtgatctcgc cttgtttctt acaagcaaac cagggtccct 2100 tcttggcacg taacatgtac gtatttctga aatattaaat agctgtacag aaaaaaaaaa 2160 aaaaaaaaaa 2170 14 1190 DNA Homo sapiens 14 gccggagacg ccggaaccag gatcgacccc agctgwccaa gaagttctgt gaggccagct 60 ggaggtttct cttctacctg tcctccttcg tgggcggcct ctcggtcctg taccacgagt 120 catggctgtg ggcaccagta atgtgctggg acaggtaccc aaaccagact ctgaagccat 180 ccctgtactg gtggtacctc ttggagctgg gtttctacct ctcactgcta atcaggctgc 240 cctttgatgt caagcgcaag gatttcaagg agcaggtgat acaccacttc gtggcggtca 300 tcctgatgac cttctcctac agtgccaacc tgctgcgcat tggctctctg gtgctgctgt 360 tacaygattc ctctgactac ctgctggagg cctgtaagat ggtcaactac atgcagtatc 420 agcaagtgtg cgacgctctc ttcctcatct tctcctttgt cttcttctac acccgactgg 480 tcctctttcc cacccagatc ctctacacca catactacga gtccatcagc aacaggggcc 540 ccttcttcgg ctactacttc ttcaacgggc ttctgatgtt gctgcagctg ctgcacgtgt 600 tctggtcttg cctcattctg cgcatgctct atagcttcat gaagaagggc cagatggaga 660 aggacattcg tagtgatgta gaagaatcag actccagtga ggaggyggcg gcggcccagg 720 aacctctgca gctaaagaac gggrcagctg gagggcccag gccagccccc actgatggcc 780 ctcggagccg ggtggccggg cgtctgacca acaggcacac aacagccaca tagccgggcg 840 gggctggctg taaggggttg cccccccgcc agtgccttgg atatttctgg ggtgactgga 900 ctggcgcccc tgggccacct ttctggagac agggagggcc ccacccgggg tgggtgggaa 960 ggctgatgat ctgtctccag ccccttcctt ctgcccaccc rcccttcttc cctctgggca 1020 actggacaga tctggsagcc agcagctgga tgctgtggct ggccagagac acctccaggc 1080 tgtrgcctgg gggctggggg gagccccagg ctgaaaaggg tccaattaaa acaaatggag 1140 ccaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaactcgag 1190 15 1735 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1002) n equals a,t,g, or c 15 tcgacccacg cgtccggcgc ggatcagctt ccagcccagt cggcccggcc cgggggcmat 60 ggagctccga gcggcggatc gcgagcctcc tgcgaacccc agcctgcacg cccggttagc 120 attcggccgg gagatgcggc agtggaatct ggaagggcgg tgaaaaacct acgtcctgcc 180 ctcgcccggc ctctccattc gtcccccggg tagagaggtg cccggctccc accccttccc 240 agccccagcc ctggagacag cagcccctag actactgagg gacagcgaca gcatgaaggc 300 tccgggtcgg ctcgtgctca tcatcctgtg ctccgtggtc ttctctgccg tctacatcct 360 cctgtgctgc tgggccggcc tgcccctctg cctggccacc tgcctggacc accacttccc 420 cacaggctcc aggcccactg tgccgggacc cctgcacttc agtggatata gcagtgtgcc 480 agatgggaag ccgctggtcc gcgagccctg ccgcagctgt gccgtggtgt ccagctccgg 540 ccaaatgctg ggctcaggcc tgggtgctga gatcgacagt gccgagtgcg tgttccgcat 600 gaaccaggcg cccaccgtgg gctttgaggc ggatgtgggc cagcgcagca ccctgcgtgt 660 cgtctcacac acaagcgtgc cgctgctgct gcgcaactat tcacactact tccagaaggc 720 ccgagacacg ctctacatgg tgtggggcca gggcaggcac atggaccggg tgctcggcgg 780 ccgcacctac cgcacgctgc tgcagctcac caggatgtac cccggcctgc aggtgtacac 840 cttcacggag cgcatgatgg cctactgcga ccagatcttc caggacgaga cgggcaagaa 900 ccggaggcag tcgggctcct tcctcagcac cggctggttc accatgatcc tcgcgctgga 960 gctgtgtgag gagatcgtgg tctatgggat ggtcagcgac anctactgca gggagaagag 1020 ccacccctca gtgccttacc actactttga gaagggccgg ctagatgagt gtcagatgta 1080 cctggcacac gagcaggcgc cccgaagcgc ccaccgcttc atcactgaga aggcggtctt 1140 ctcccgctgg gccaagaaga ggcccatcgt gttcgcccat ccgtcctgga ggactgagta 1200 gcttccgtcg tcctgccagc cgccatgccg ttgcgaggcc tccgggatgt cccatcccaa 1260 gccatcacac tccacaaaaa catttaattt atggatcctg cctcctgcca cgtgctgggt 1320 ggacctaagg ttccttccca cccccattst ggcgacaytt ggagccatct caggcctcca 1380 ctccctgagt aattcatggc atttgggggc tcaccccacc tcccaggtct gtcaagtggc 1440 ctttgtccct gggctgatgg cccccaactc accagcatca tgaccttgtg ccagtcctgg 1500 tcctccctcc ccagccgccc ctaccacctt ttggtgccac acttctcagg ctggccgccc 1560 tggttggggc agccgagagc ctggggttca ttggtgaagg ggccttggag ttgtgactgc 1620 cggggccgta tcaggaacgt acgggtaaac gtgtgttttc tggaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1680 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaac tcgag 1735 16 1274 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (5) n equals a,t,g, or c 16 ctacncggaa caaaatctgg agctccaccc gcggtggcgg ccgctctaga actagtggat 60 cccccgggct gcaggaattc ggcacgagga gccatcttgc agccgtccat atggcagcct 120 gggtcttccc gttgctttca gtcatccaca cargtctgcc acaggccagt cctgaaatct 180 gggtaactca gtcagaaggt ggtgatcagg gcgtagcttg tgaargggtt gggggtgtgt 240 tragcacact ggatcgtatt gaattgtgtt tcctaagtga ccgtgctagc tcaggctgca 300 rtgacaaasc accacagact ggggtcttat tcctgggggc tggcatttgc catgaaggtg 360 tgggcagggc tggttcctcc cgagccctct ctcctgggcc tgcargtgcc gtctttccgt 420 cttttccctg tgccttcccg gggccatcct gcgtgtgtct gtgtcctcgg ctctcctgga 480 ramcctaccg ttctcaagga ccctggtcat attggatcag ggccacccta atggcctcat 540 gtcactgcag ttacctytaa aggccgttaa agtcccmagc tccaagtata wtcmcattcc 600 aaggcactgg ggtcgggatt tcaacttwcg aactctgagc ggragatcaa ttcaggccat 660 ggcaggctaa agtataatac taaaatcaca aatgtagcag cctgcttttc cgtagaatgt 720 tgctgtgtgt attttttgtt ttctgtggca aaataaaagt gggtcactct tgtaaaattt 780 ggcagttttt aatggagaaa gcaacttaat tttgctagcc tttaagaaat ggcatcttga 840 catatcaggt cttcatttta ttccaacaag aatgcagaat atgttttaaa aataaccaag 900 aatcccctta gtgcttcata aaataagtga aaacctgacc ctgatttttg tagcaaaaaa 960 tgaagtaaac gtggaaaatg aagaggaaat tctagtagga gacgatgggg tcataagtca 1020 gaaattaaag agttgtttgc tccccaccct cccgccagcc ctcacctcac ccctgctgtg 1080 gggcctctgc ccagcctggg ccaaggccgt ggctcccctg gtgccatcct gtccgcagtc 1140 ggctccctgt ccacggcgtg tggctccttc aggacatcag tcacctgttg tccatgtggc 1200 acatcctcgt gccgaattcg atatcaagct tatcgatacc gtcgacctcg aggggggncc 1260 ggaacccggg tcga 1274 17 1921 DNA Homo sapiens 17 cgcccggcgc cgggcgcccg aagccgggag ccgccgccat gggggcctgc ctgggagcct 60 gctccctgct cagctgcgcg tcctgcctct gcggctctgc cccctgcatc ctgtgcagct 120 gctgccccgc cagccgcaam tccaccgtga gccgcctcat cttcacgttc ttcctcttcc 180 tgggggtgct ggtgtccatc attatgctga gcccgggcgt ggagagtcag ctctacaagc 240 tgccctgggt gtgtgaggag ggggccggga tccccaccgt cctgcagggc cacatcgact 300 gtggctccct gcttggctac cgcgctgtct accgcatgtg cttcgccacg gcggccttct 360 tcttcttttt caccctgctc atgctctgcg tgagcagcag ccgggacccc cgggctgcca 420 tccagaatgg gttttggttc tttaagttcc tgatcctggt gggccycacc gtgggtgcct 480 tctacatccc tgacggctcc ttcaccaaca tctggttcta cttcggcgtc gtgggctcct 540 tcctcttcat cctcatccag ctggtgctgc tcatygactt tgcgcactcc tggaaccagc 600 ggtggctggg caaggccgag gagtgcgatt cccgtgcctg gtacgcaggc ctcttcttct 660 tcactctcct cttctacttg ctgtcgatcg cggccgtggc gctgatgttc atgtactaca 720 ctgagcccag cggctgccac gagggcaagg tcttcatcag cctcaacctc accttctgtg 780 tctgcgtgtc catcgctgct gtcctgccca aggtccagga cgcccagccc aactcgggtc 840 tgctgcaggc ctcggtcatc accctctaca ccatgtttgt cacctggtca gccctatcca 900 gtatccctga acagaaatgc aacccccatt tgccaaccca gctgggcaac gagacagttg 960 tggcaggccc cgagggctat gagacccagt ggtgggatgc cccgagcatt gtgggcctca 1020 tcatcttcct cctgtgcacc ctcttcatca gtctgcgctc ctcagaccac cggcaggtga 1080 acagcctgat gcagaccgag gagtgcccac ctatgctaga cgccacacag cagcagcagc 1140 agcaggtggc agcctgtgag ggccgggcct ttgacaacga gcaggacggc gtcacctaca 1200 gctactcctt cttccacttc tgcctggtgc tggcctcact gcacgtcatg atgacgctca 1260 ccaactggta caagcccggt gagacccgga agatgatcag cacgtggacc gccgtgtggg 1320 tgaagatctg tgccagctgg gcagggctgc tcctctacct gtggaccctg gtagccccac 1380 tcctcctgcg caaccgcgac ttcagctgag gcagcctcac agcctgccat ctggtgcctc 1440 ctgccacctg gtgcctctcg gctcggtgac agccaacctg ccccctcccc acaccaatca 1500 gccaggctga gcccccaccc ctgccccagc tccaggacct gcccctgagc cgggccttct 1560 agtcgtagtg ccttcagggt ccgaggagca tcaggctcct gcagagcccc atccccccgc 1620 cacacccaca cggtggagct gcctcttcct tcccctcctc cctgttgccc atactcagca 1680 tctcggatga aagggctccc ttgtcctcag gctccacggg agcggggctg ctggagagag 1740 cggggaactc ccaccacagt ggggcatccg gcactgaagc cctggtgttc ctggtcacgt 1800 cccccagggg accctgcccs cttcctggac ttcgtgcctt actgagtctc taagactttt 1860 tctaataaac aagccagtgc gtgtacaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1920 a 1921 18 692 DNA Homo sapiens 18 ggcacgagtg ttcttcagca accctacctg cttctccaaa ctgcctaaag agatccagta 60 ctgatgacgc tgttcttcca tctttactcc ctggaaacta accacgttgt cttctttcct 120 tcaccaccac ccaggagctc agagatctaa gctgctttcc atcttttctc ccagccccag 180 gacactgact ctgtacagga tggggccgtc ctcttgcctc cttctcatcc taatccccct 240 tctccagctg atcaacctgg ggagtactca gtgttcctta gactccgtta tggataagaa 300 gatcaaggat gttctcaaca gtctagagta cagtccctct cctataagca agaagctctc 360 gtgtgctagt gtcaaaagcc aaggcagacc gtcctcctgc cctgctggga tggctgtcac 420 tggctgtgct tgtggctatg gctgtggttc gtgggatgtt cagctggaaa ccacctgcca 480 ctgccagtgc agtgtggtgg actggaccac tgcccgctgc tgccacctga cctgacaggg 540 aggaggctga gaactcagtt ttgtgaccat gacagtaatg aaaccagggt cccaaccaag 600 aaatctaact caaacgtccc acttcatttg ttccattcct gattcttggg taataaagac 660 aaactttgta cctcaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 692 19 1500 DNA Homo sapiens 19 cccccgggct gcaggaattc ggcacgagcg agtttttact tccttaataa aattggtttt 60 ggtgctcact ttggcagcac atatactaaa attggaacta gacagagatt ggcattgccc 120 ccgagcaaga atgacacgca aattcgtgaa gccttcaata aaaaataaaa taattttgtt 180 ttcccaatct gtgtctcttt taagccccac aggatagaaa tgtcctaaaa taagaaatta 240 aataagaggg gaagccccat gatctgttct ggtttttttg ggtggtggtg gtggtggtgt 300 tttttaatgg gtctctcagg attccaccag acccacttcc cagccgctgt gtggtctggg 360 cctgagaaca ccaagccccc cgacccgcgg cccacgccca cccaccaccc agcctcggca 420 gcgctttccc aggattcaca tggtaatgaa ggcatccatc ttctcccaga cacacactgg 480 gccctgcgac cctcccaggg cccacacaat ggcccacagc gccgcggccc caccacctgt 540 tggattttcc cagggaaggg agtgaggggg tggaggggaa gggcagtccg tctcttccca 600 gcccccagcc ccatttgcac cctggtcgca agagtcagtc agcgagggca cccatgtcct 660 cggactctca gtccatcctc agcaccctgt ttcctcatcc tcaaactgca aggtggttgg 720 gaggattcta atgggaatgg tagtaaggac acgctcagga actgtggatt gccagacaaa 780 gagagcaaaa ggctgggctt acaggcgtga gccacaacgt ccggccaggc taatttttta 840 atatttttgt agagacggga tctcactgta ttgcccaggc tggtctcaaa ctcctatcct 900 caagcagtcc tccttcctca gcctcccaga gtgctgggat tgcaggcatg agaccccgca 960 cagtctgttt ctacagcggc ctctctgcgg cttcctctct tctggcctca tggagaaacc 1020 ccagaaagag catagactct ggaattagag aaacagggtt tggaattctg tgccattctc 1080 tccctgtgtg gtttggccaa ctgattcaaa ggctgtttcc tcatttgtaa aatggagata 1140 tatagtcagt ggtccttgtt attatctccc tgctacctgc ccccttccca aacaccagcc 1200 agtcttctct gctctggcca aattgataat agcttttgtt tttcaagcct aaaaccagct 1260 tcttccagtt tgctcagcag ctatttgcta atcatccaga gtgacctagg acgtatttac 1320 atgagcggaa gagccactcg gggagagtgc tgctgggaat gcctccacag agatgctgat 1380 tgtacgcatg ctgcgtaagc ctcagatttt tctgttcagg cccaaatgcg cagcacaatc 1440 tgtgggaaag ttgcaacaga gaaagcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaactcgag ggggggcccg 1500 20 2136 DNA Homo sapiens 20 ggacgagcag ccgcagtcgc cactggctgc ctgaggtgct cttacagcct gttccaagtg 60 tggcttaatc cgtctccacc accagatctt tctccgtgga ttcctctgct aagaccgctg 120 ccatgccagt gacggtaacc cgcaccacca tcacaaccac cacgacgtca tcttcgggcc 180 tggggtcccc catgatcgtg gggtcccctc gggccctgac acagcccctg ggtctccttc 240 gcctgctgca gctggtgtct acctgcgtgg ccttctcgct ggtggctagc gtgggcgcct 300 ggacggggtc catgggcaac tggtccatgt tcacctggtg cttctgcttc tccgtgaccc 360 tgatcatcct catcgtggag ctgtgcgggc tccaggcccg cttccccctg tcttggcgca 420 acttccccat caccttcgcc tgctatgcgg ccctcttctg cctctcggcc tccatcatct 480 accccaccac ctatgtccag ttcctgtccc acggccgttc gcgggaccac gccatcgccg 540 ccaccttctt ctcctgcatc gcgtgtgtgg cttacgccac cgaagtggcc tggacccggg 600 cccggcccgg cgagatcact ggctatatgg ccaccgtacc cgggctgctg aaggtgctgg 660 agaccttcgt tgcctgcatc atcttcgcgt tcatcagcga ccccaacctg taccagcacc 720 agccggccct ggagtggtgc gtggcggtgt acgccatctg cttcatccta gcggccatcg 780 ccatcctgct gaacctgggg gagtgcacca acgtgctacc catccccttc cccagcttcc 840 tgtcggggct ggccttgctg tctgtcctcc tctatgccac cgcccttgtt ctctggcccc 900 tctaccagtt cgatgagaag tatggcggca gcctcggcgc tcgagagatg taagctgcag 960 ccgcagccat gcctactacg tgtgtgcctg ggaccgccga ctggctgtgg ccatcctgac 1020 ggccatcaac ctactggcgt atgtggctga cctggtgcac tctgcccacc tggtttttgt 1080 caaggtctaa gactctccca agaggctccc gttccctctc caacctcttt gttcttcttg 1140 cccgagtttt ctttatggag tacttctttc ctccgccttt cctctgtttt cctcttcctg 1200 tctcccctcc ctcccacctt tttctttcct tcccaattcc ttgcactcta accagttctt 1260 ggatgcatct tcttccttcc ctttcctctt gctgtttcct tcctgtgttg ttttgttgcc 1320 cacatcctgt tttcacccct gagctgtttc tctttttctt ttctttcttt tttttttttt 1380 tttttaagac ggattcttac tctgtggccc aggctggagc gcagtggtgc gatctcgact 1440 cactgcaacc cccgcctcct gggttcaagc gattctcctg ccccagcctc ccaagtagct 1500 gggaggacag gtgtgagctg ccgcacccag cctgtttctc tttttccact cttctttttt 1560 ctcatctctt ttctgggttc ctgtcggctt tcttatctgc ctgttttgca agcaccttct 1620 cctgtgtcct tgggagccct gagacttctt tctctccttg cctccaccca cctccaaagg 1680 tgctgagctc acatccacac cccttgcagc cgtccatgcc acagcccccc aaggggcccc 1740 attgccaaag catgcctgcc caccctcgct gtgccttagt cagtgtgtac gtgtgtgtgt 1800 gtgtgtgttt ggggggtggg gggtgggtag ctggggattg ggccctcttt ctcccagtgg 1860 aggaaggtgt gcagtgtact tcccctttaa attaaaaaac atatatatat atatatttgg 1920 aggtcagtaa tttccaatgg gcgggaggca ttaagcaccg accctgggtc cctaggcccc 1980 gcctggcact cagccttgcc agagattggc tccagaattt ttgccaggct tacagaacac 2040 ccactgccta gaggccatct taaaggaagc aggggctgga tgcctttcat cccaactatt 2100 ctctgtggta tgaaaaagaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 2136 21 1547 DNA Homo sapiens 21 ggcagagccc agttcatctc attgggactg gttagacagt gggtgcagcc cacagaggga 60 gagcagaagc agggtggggc gttgcctcac ctgggaagcg caaggggttg aggaactccc 120 tcctctagcc aaggcaagcc atgaaggact gtgccgtgag ggacggtgct atctgaccca 180 catactacgc ttttccgatg gttttcacaa cccacagacc aaaagattcc cttgggtgcc 240 tatacaacca gggccctggg tatcaagcat aaaactggat ggccgtttgg ggagacaccg 300 agctggctgc aggagttttt tgtttttttt tgtttttttg ttttttgtac ctcagtggca 360 cctggaatgc cagcaagaca gaactgttca ctcctctgga aagggagctg aagccagggc 420 acccgagtgg tatgctcagc ggatcccacc cccacggagc ccaacaagct aaatccactg 480 gcttgaaact ctcgctgcct gcacagcagt ctgaagttga cctgggatgc tcaagcttgg 540 tgtggggagg ggcatctgcc attactgagg ctttgtaaac aaagctgaca gaaagtttga 600 actgggtgca gaacccaaca cagcatggca aagccgctgt agccagaatc tagagaggca 660 tctctagatt cctcctctct gggcagggca tctctgaaag aaaggtagca gccccagtca 720 ggagcttata gaaaaaactc ccatgtccct gggacagagc acctggggga aggggcagct 780 gtgggcacag cttcaacaga cttaaacttt cctgcctgct ggctctgaag agaggaacag 840 atctctcacc acagcgctca agatctgcta agggacagac tgcctcttcc agtggattct 900 tgacccccgt gcctctgact gggagacacc ttccagcagg ggacgacaga cacctcaaac 960 aggagaactt cagctggcat ctggcgggtg cctctctgcg acgaagcttc cagaggaagg 1020 atcaggcagc aatatttgct gttctgcagc ctccactgga gatacccagg caaacagggt 1080 ctggaatgga acttcagtaa attccagcag acctgcagaa gaggggcctg actgttagaa 1140 ggaaaactaa caaccagaaa gcaatagcat caacatcaac aaaaaggaca cccaagcaaa 1200 aaccccatcc aaaggtcacc aacatcaaag accaaaggta gataaattca cgaagatgag 1260 gaaaaaccaa cgcaaaaagg ctgaaaattc ccaaaaccag aatgcctctt ctcctccaaa 1320 gtatcacaac tccttgccag taagggaaca aaactggacg gagaatgagt ttgatgaatt 1380 gacagaagta ggcttcagaa ggtgggtaat aacaaactct caagctaaag gagtgtgttt 1440 taacccaatg caaggaagct aagaaccttg ataaaaagtt acaggaacta tcactagaat 1500 accagttatg agaacaacat aaatacctga tggagctgaa gccaagg 1547 22 2657 DNA Homo sapiens 22 ggcacgagga agaagcttca gctgattgag ggcaggcagc acagatcaac atggagcccc 60 accatggtag tcctgttcag gtgggtccca gtcacagatg cctattggca gattctcttc 120 tccgtcctca aggtcaccag aaacctgaag gagctggacc taagtggaaa ctcgctgagc 180 cactctgcag tgaagagtct ttgtaagacc ctgagacgcc ctcgctgcct cctggagacc 240 ctgcggttgg ctggctgtgg cctcacagct gaggactgca aggaccttgc ctttgggctg 300 agagccaacc agaccctgac cgagctggac ctgagcttca atgtgctcac ggatgctgga 360 gccaaacacc tttgccagag actgagacag ccgagctgca agctacagcg actgcagctg 420 gtcagctgtg gcctcacgtc tgactgctgc caggacctgg cctctgtgct tagtgccagc 480 cccagcctga aggagctaga cctgcagcag aacaacctgg atgacgttgg cgtgcgactg 540 ctctgtgagg ggctcagcat cctgcctgca aactcatacg cctggggctg gaccagacaa 600 ctctgagtga tgagatgagg caggaactga gggccctgga gcaggagaaa cctcagctgc 660 tcatcttcag cagacggaaa ccaagtgtga tgacccctac tgaggcctgg atacgggaga 720 gatgagtaat agcacatcct cactcaagcg gcagagactc ggatcagaga gggcggcttc 780 ccatgttgct caggctaatc tcaaactcct ggacgtgagc aagatcttcc caattgctga 840 gattgcagag gaaagctccc cagaggtagt accggtggaa ctcttgtgca tgccttctcc 900 tgcctctcaa ggggacctgc atacgaagcc tttggggact gacgatgact tctggggccc 960 cacggggcct gtggctactg aggtagttga caaagaaaag aacttgtacc gagttcactt 1020 ccctgtagct ggctcctacc gctggcccaa cacgggtctc tgctttgtga tgagagaagc 1080 ggtgaccgtt gagattgaat tctgtgtgtg ggaccagttc ctgggtgaga tcaacccaca 1140 gcacagctgg atggtggcag ggcctctgct ggacatcaag gctgagcctg gagctgtgga 1200 agctgtgcac ctccctcact ttgtggctct ccaagggggc catgtggaca catccctgtt 1260 ccaagtggcc cactttaaag aggaggggat gctcctggag aagccagcca gggtggagct 1320 gcatcacata gttctggaaa accccagctt ctcccccttg ggagtcctcc tgaaaatgat 1380 ccataatgcc ctgcgcttca ttcccgtcac ctctgtggtg ttgctttacc accgcgtcca 1440 tcctgaggaa gtcaccttcc acctctacct gatcccaagt gactgctcca ttcggaagga 1500 actggagctc tgctatcgaa gccctggaga agaccagctg ttctcggagt tctacgttgg 1560 ccacttggga tcagggatca ggctgcaagt gaaagacaag aaagatgaga ctctggtgtg 1620 ggaggccttg gtgaaaccag gagatctcat gcctgcaact actctgatcc ctccagcccg 1680 catatccgta ccttcacctc tggatgcccc gcagttgctg cactttgtgg accagtatcg 1740 agagcagctg atagcccgag tgacatcggt ggaggttgtc ttggacaaac tgcatggaca 1800 ggtgctgagc caggagcagt acgagagggt gctggctgag aacacgaggc ccagccagat 1860 gcggaagctg ttcagcttga gccagtcctg ggaccggaag tgcaaagatg gactctacca 1920 agccctgaag gagacccatc ctcactcatt atggaactct gggagaaggg cagcaaaaag 1980 ggactcctgc cactcagcag ctgaagtatc aacactagcc cttgaccctt gagtcctggc 2040 tttggctgac ccttctttgg gtctcagttt ctttctctgc aaacaagttg ccatctggtt 2100 tgccttccag cactaaagta atggaacttt gatgatgcct ttgctgggca ttatgtgtcc 2160 atgccaggga tgccacaggg ggccccagtc caggtggcct aacagcatct cagggaatgt 2220 ccatctggag ctggcaagac ccctgcagac ctcatagagc ctcatctggt ggccacagca 2280 gcacaagcct agagcctccg gatcccatcc aggcgcaaag aggaatagga gggacatgga 2340 accatttgcc tctggctgtg tcacagggtg agccccaaaa ttggggttca gcgtgggagg 2400 ccacgtggat tcttggcttt gtacaggaag atctacaaga gcaagccaac agagtaaagt 2460 ggaaggaagt ttattcagaa aataaaggag tatcacagct cttttagaat ttgtctagca 2520 ggctttccag tttttaccag aaaaccccta taaattaaaa attttttact taaatttaag 2580 aattaaaaaa atacaaaaaa gaaaaaatga aaataaagga ataagaagtt acctactcca 2640 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 2657 23 2466 DNA Homo sapiens 23 ggcacgagca ggggcttaga tgctgctgcg ccatccctta cctgtctgtt tctgtttctc 60 cttctgtccc ttcccagtct cagcactgag tctcttgccc attggcctgg tgagggaagg 120 agctgccagc cccacccaac agctcaggtt acagagagag tcactttctt ccattactca 180 cagagtaaac atcaaggaag gccactgatt gattgacagt gtctgggtca gatgtctatc 240 cttaggccag tccctgtgaa caaggggatg ggtgtctgcg tggaccagat ctgaagcaca 300 ggcccatgcc tggggccagg ggtgggaact atggacctct ctccccactg agaaccccag 360 ggagcaggtg aggtgaaatt cctctagggg aagaggggca aaattgacaa gatagcagat 420 gtctaccata ctgctgtggg gcctggtccc tcccagaagg aaaaacatag taacaataga 480 gtgggtctca ccctccacct gggtctcaag tagggtgtgg atgaggacaa tggaaatgaa 540 ggaaaggtta gaaggcctgt ggtaccggtt ggtaaatagc tcttcgtgct ttctccatau 600 ggagtgagag tgcttggatg tgattccttc aaagtcaggt ctaggagact caggatgcct 660 aatctagagg taagaacatt gtgaggaaag ccagtgaatt cagtcttgtg catgctgact 720 ttgaagtact tttggaagag ccaagtggaa ttatccacag gacaggacca aatcttacct 780 ggttcttccc caggccgact agtccacaac aggaaataaa aagagttgcc ccgataccaa 840 gttgtactag tccattctca cactgctatg gggaaatacc tgagactggg taatttataa 900 agggaaaagg tttaattgac tcacagttct agatggctgg ggaggcttca ggaaacttac 960 aatcatggca gaaggcacca cttcacaggg tggcgggaga gagaatgagt gcccagcgaa 1020 gggagaagct ccttataaaa ccatctgttc tccttataaa gatctcttaa taaaaccgtc 1080 agagaactat ctcattcact atcaggagaa gagcatgggg gaaccgcccc catgattcag 1140 tttactccac ctggtcccgc ccttgacatg tgggtgttat tacaatttaa ggtgagattt 1200 gggtggggac acagagccaa accatatcac aaggctttct cctccttgct gggattgtac 1260 ccatagcctc tttctgagtc ctctctcttt tagcctcttt atgcctgcag tgcatcctta 1320 taccatttct agagtcatct ttataaaact tatactctcc gtatgactca taaatcctgt 1380 tttttttttt gcacagtata ttaagtataa atttgttaaa gtctttaatg gtctgccccc 1440 aagctacatt tccattttgt atgtctttca gttcctttct actttgtatt tggctgttga 1500 gttaactgaa tttttgccat tccattaacc catcccatgc ttttcccact tctagatttc 1560 acttttcttg taggctagaa tgtcttgact gggatctgac tggagataat gagaacaaaa 1620 actggttcaa agagccagga tgttgcataa aagtcctaag attgtatcta agcaggtaaa 1680 ataaaaattt taggcaatta cttaaatttg aaatgctcac atttattaat aaggcatgta 1740 acatctacat gagccatcat ttgctttttt aattccacat tgattaggag ccaaaccttc 1800 agggcaggta tccggtagag cgccctggag aggccctgga taggcacagg cgcctgtcag 1860 ggggctcttc acatgctgtg tgctgctgct gggagaagag ggggccagag actagggggc 1920 ttctaagaag aggtggcatt tctgcctcag tgttgaagga tgaataactt tgacaggctg 1980 gaaaaaggtg acatttcagg tagagcgtgt cacatggatg taaataccaa aggtcaagga 2040 catgggcttg agagatggtg agaaggatgg aggtgactgt ggcttgcatt ctatccgtat 2100 cactattaat taccttctaa tgcctttggc tctaggtggt ggaacaagta aagtaatgga 2160 caaatacttt ttctaccaat atttagtgac caaatgcaga gttatggaga gggccaggga 2220 cctcatgaac catactcttt ctagtctagg gacataactc caatgccttt cctgtcccag 2280 taagaggcca tggatttcaa gaagccagac aatccattct ttcagataat gataaaaaag 2340 aaaccattta ttttatttct aagtatagaa tgaaacattt atagttgccc aaattttggt 2400 accttttagg agaaaaatac agattttttt gttgttaaaa ataaacttaa aaaaaaaaaa 2460 aaaaaa 2466 24 2495 DNA Homo sapiens 24 aagagcctgg ggccagaggg ccagacagcc acagagctcc tggcgtgggc aaggctggcc 60 aaggatggcg acgcccaggg gcctgggggc cctgctcctg ctcctcctgc tcccgacctc 120 aggtcaggaa aagcccaccg aagggccaag aaacacctgc ctggggagca acaacatgta 180 cgacatcttc aacttgaatg acaaggcttt gtgcttcacc aagtgcaggc agtcgggcag 240 cgactcctgc aatgtggaaa acttgcagag gttccgaggc aggtgatgaa ggacgaggac 300 aagccccctg acagagtgcg acttcccaag agcctttttc gatccctgcc aggcaacagg 360 tctgtggtcc gcttggccgt caccattctg gacattggtc cagggactct cttcaagggc 420 ccccggctcg gcctgggaga tggcagcggc gtgttgaaca atcgcctggt gggtttgagt 480 gtgggacaaa tgcatgtcac caagctggct gagcctctgg agatcgtctt ctctcaccag 540 cgaccgcccc ctaacatgac cctcacctgt gtattctggg atgtgactaa agggaccgtg 600 tgctcctgag acccaccttg gaccagtcca cggtgcatat cctcacacgc atctcccagg 660 cgggctgtgg ggtctccatg atcttcctgg ccttcaccat tattctttat gcctttctga 720 ggcctgcccg ccctgatggt catcggcact gggagtgcca acagctacgg cctctacacc 780 atccgtgata gggagaaccg cacctctctg gagctatgct ggttccgtga agggacaacc 840 atgtacgccc tctatatcac cgtccacggc tacttcctca tcaccttcct ctttggcatg 900 gtggtcctgg ccctggtggt ctggaagatc ttcaccctgt cccgtgctac agcggtcaag 960 gagcggggga agaaccggaa gaaggtgctc accctgctgg gcctctcgag cctggtgggt 1020 gtgacatggg ggttggccat cttcaccccg ttgggcctct ccaccgtcta catctttgca 1080 cttttcaact ccttgcaagc ccagagaggc atcacagtct gactgtgaga gaaacagcca 1140 agacaggagt gacgagactc aacctgttca gggaagtcac tagaaaccca ggcgtcctag 1200 atgcagcggg tataagcccc caagaccagg actggctccc agcgccccat gagagatgtg 1260 tggcttagtg gctagggcca ggcagccctg ggtccaaatc ctagccccat ccctgaccca 1320 gcaagtcact cagctccttc cgtcctcatt catcgcgaaa ttgggataat cccgtactta 1380 tctcaccagc tttttttttt tttttaattg agatggagtc ttgctctgtc acccaggctg 1440 gagtgcagtg gcacgatctc agctcactgc gacctccacc tcctgggttc aagtaattct 1500 tctggtttca gcctcctgag tagctggaac tacaggcaca tgccaccatg cccagctaat 1560 ttttgaattt ttagtagaaa tggggtttca ccatactggt caggctggtc tcaaactcct 1620 gacctcagat gatctacctg cctcagcctc cgaaagtgct gggattacag gcgtgagcca 1680 ctgtgcctgg cctgccagat ttcacaatga acaatgacaa tgcatatgtg ggaactacta 1740 ggtcttcaat atgtgggaac tatattaata atcatagaaa ttatgactgt aaggccatct 1800 gaggctgtct ccaggtggag aatcatgagt ccatgcctgg agaatcccag gggttgatgg 1860 ttggggagaa atgaactttg aaactatagc tgacatcgtt attctttcag aggttacctt 1920 aatatgtaag cctgcacact tcactctact aagtttccac tgggtctgag ttattctgta 1980 tttctctctt cctctccaat acaacagagc ccttggtata cttgaattgc ccattgaact 2040 cttctcaata tttgtcttgc atatagaggt ttagttacag atttccttga aacatagagt 2100 ttttctaagt catgttctgt acttactata atttctttca ccccacactt tcccttttcc 2160 tcttgctgga gtgcctccca taataatcct ttatagaggg agtgatggtt gttttgtatg 2220 tctgaaaatt cctctatttt gctctttctt ttctgtaata ggcataggta gatattttat 2280 ttgaaggtct ctgtttttca tttccaagat ttcgatttgg ttctttttta tttcattttt 2340 gaaatggttg tgaaatggtt gcatttttgc ctttcccagc agttcttgag tggttacggt 2400 gggtctcctc cctctcagca gccaccagcc caggctgccc cactctctgc ccaccccttt 2460 ccaggctcac cgaggcctct ccttcctaac aggtg 2495 25 3244 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (30) n equals a,t,g, or c 25 gcgccgcatc gctcgggtgc agcgcactcn agcgcacgct gcggcctttc ggcagccgaa 60 cggccgcggc agttcaggac aaagaggtgt gggcaggcca ctgggccagc tggtaacatc 120 atggcagaga aagtgaacaa cttcccacca ttgcccaaat tcatcccgct gaagccatgt 180 ttctaccaag acttcgaggc agatattcct ccccagcatg tcagcatgac caagcgcctc 240 tactacctct ggatgtgact gacagctcct tcagtttcat ggcattcttc tttaccttca 300 tggctcagtt ggtcatcagc atcatccagg ccgtgggcat cccaggctgg ggcgtctgcg 360 gctggattgc taccatctcc ttcttcggaa cgaacattgg ctcggcggtg gtgatgctaa 420 ttcccactgt catgttcaca gtgatggccg tcttttcctt catcgccctc agcatggttc 480 ataaatttta ccggggaagt ggggggagtt tcagcaaagc tcaggaggag tggaccacag 540 gggcctggaa gaatccacat gtgcagcagg cagcccagaa cgcagccatg ggggcagccc 600 agggtgccat gaatcagcct cagactcagt attccgccac ccccaattac acgtactcca 660 atgagatgtg aaccagccac gcctaccagg tggcagagct ggggccattg ggacaggggg 720 ctcaagccac atcgtcattt gtggttacca agcagggttc ccccttccct tttctccttc 780 cctactttgt acaaaggacc agagttatat atatatatat atgtatatgt ctgtacccca 840 gcccccacct ttcagattct gctcttggca ctcagctgtg ggctgcacgt ggagctgtcc 900 cgtgcggtag tagctgtgtc tgtgtcccct cgtgaaatag tgtgcagtgg aggtctcttg 960 tggtgctaga tgtgtgttta gagctaaacc agcccccacc cccaccctcc acctgcccct 1020 cttgcctctg gcccctctga ccctggccca gggacccctc acggggccag gggaggcata 1080 gcagaaagac tggccccttc ctagggttat gagctggaac tgtttctact ttcagtcttc 1140 ctgggaagta acagtactta gcactcttgg tggtgggtgg gagggtgggt acaggccagg 1200 gatattccct tgctcttttg atccctccag gcctcgcctc cttcagcctc ctcctccctc 1260 atctgttccc tgatgtcaca ttccctgtgc aatcttccct tgcccatggt ctgtctatct 1320 ctttcctatg tggcttttct ttgtcttccc caaggctgag tgtcccagtt ttatctgctc 1380 ctgagactga gcccagatcc ccaaatctaa tctgatttac agttcaagga agctgatggg 1440 gagctgggcc ttacccctga tgtaggaggg gcacacagct gggggtgcag agcccacctg 1500 ggtacctgac ccccagggga tgaaaatgca aggatgagtc tgcttgggcc tgagagtttg 1560 atctgcaggg gcaggctcat cttttctctc ccctgccttc tcctccttct ctccccagag 1620 cccccttgag cccctctgcc tatgtccctc tgcctcctcc ccatgccccc agttgctgtg 1680 gcttgattct gctaccctga ccccaccatg tgccaggtgg catctgcctt actgccttcc 1740 ctgaggagct gggacatgct gggcagttgt cagatgtaaa ggcacagctg gagcagaggg 1800 catgtcagta atgattggtc cctggggaag gtctggctgg ctccagcaca gtgaggcatt 1860 taggtatctc tcggtgaccg ttggattcct ggaagcagta gctgttctgt ttggatctgg 1920 taggacaggg ctcagagggc taggcacgga gggaaggtca gaggagaagg caggcagggc 1980 ccagtgagag gggagcatgc cttcccccac cctggcttgc tcttggtcac agggcggttc 2040 tgggcacttg aactcagggc ccaagcagaa gcacaggccc agtcctggct gcaagcacaa 2100 tagcctgaat gggatttcag gttaggcagg gtgggagggg aggctctctg gctttagttt 2160 tgttttgttt tccaaatcaa ggtaacttgc tcccttctgc ctacaggcct tggtcttggc 2220 ttgtcctcac ccagtcggaa ctccctacca ctttcaggag agtggtttta ggcccgtggg 2280 gctgttctgt tccaagcagt gtgagaacat ggctggtaga ggctctagct gtgtgcgggg 2340 cctgaagggg agtgggttct cgcccaaaga gcatctgccc atttcccacc ttcccttctc 2400 ccaccagaag cttgcctgag ctgtttggac aaaaatccaa accccacttg gctactctgg 2460 cctggcttca gcttggaacc caatacctag gcttacaggc catcctgagc caggggcctc 2520 tggaaattct cttcctgatg gtcctttagg tttgggcaca aaatataatt gcctctcccc 2580 tctcccattt tctctcttgg gagcaatggt cacagtccct ggtacctgaa aaggtactag 2640 gtctaggccc ttcttccctt tcccttcctc tcccctaccc cagaactttg gctccctttc 2700 ccttctctct ctggtagctc caggaggcct gtgatccagc tccctgccta gcatccatga 2760 cctgttggat gttacctcca atcagtttcc tgtcctacct gcctctttgg cttggaccta 2820 tatggccatg ctctggctct acccttggga agcctgatcc cggtgtgtgg cccagcttgt 2880 tcaggccctg ggatgctgca tctccaggca actatgcact ttcccgggga gagaaccagt 2940 atgagaagtg ggggcagggc acacattcat ctttgtagga aggtctggcc tggggtcggg 3000 tgaaggaggg cccaggtcag ttctggggtc ccagtgacct gctttgccat tctcctggtg 3060 ccgctgctgc tccctgtttc tggagctgga tgttccccag ctggcagttg agctgcctga 3120 gccaatgtgt ctgtctttgg taactgagtg aaccataata aaggggaaca tttggccctg 3180 tgaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 3240 annc 3244 26 1362 DNA Homo sapiens 26 ggcacgagaa tcctccaaca tggagcctct tgcagcttac ccgctaaaat gttccgggcc 60 cagagcaaag gtatttgcag ttttgctgtc tatagttcta tgcacagtaa cgctatttct 120 tctacaacta aaattcctca aacctaaaat caacagcttt tatgcctttg aagtgaagga 180 tgcaaaagga agaactgttt ctctggaaaa gtataaaggc aaagtttcac tagttgtaaa 240 cgtggccagt gactgccaac tcacagacag aaattactta gggctgaagg aactgcacaa 300 agagtttgga ccatcccact tcagcgtgtt ggcttttccc tgacaatcag tttggagaat 360 cggagccccg cccaagcaag gaagtagaat cttttgcaag aaaaaactac ggagtaactt 420 tccccatctt ccacaagatt aagattctag gatctgaagg agaacctgca tttagatttc 480 ttgttgattc ttcaaagaag gaaccaaggt ggaatttttg gaagtatctt gtcaaccctg 540 agggtcaagt tgtgaagttc tggaggccag aggagcccat tgaagtcatc aggcctgaca 600 tagcagctct ggttagacaa gtgatcataa aaaagaaaga ggatctatga gaatgccatt 660 gcgtttctaa tagaacagag aaatgtctcc atgagggttt ggtctcattt taaacatttt 720 ttttttggag acagtgtctc actctgtcac ccaggctgga gtgcagtagt gcgttctcag 780 ctcattgcaa cctctgcctt tttaaacatg ctattaaatg tggcaatgaa ggattttttt 840 ttaatgttat cttgctatta agtggtaatg aatgttccca ggatgaggat gttacccaaa 900 gcaaaaatca agagtagcca aagaatcaac atgaaatata ttaactactt cctctgacca 960 tactaaagaa ttcagaatac acagtgacca atgtgcctca atatcttatt gttcaacttg 1020 acattttcta ggactgtact tgatgaaaat gccaacacac tagaccactc tttggattca 1080 agagcactgt gtatgactga aatttctgga ataactgtaa atggttatgt taatggaata 1140 aaacacaaat gttgaaaaat gtaaaatata tatacataga ttcaaatcct tatatatgta 1200 tgcttgtttt gtgtacagga ttttgttttt tctttttaag tacaggttcc tagtgtttta 1260 ctataactgt cactatgtat gtaactgaca tatataaata gtcatttata aatgaccgta 1320 ttataacatt taaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 1362 27 1381 DNA Homo sapiens 27 ggacgagatt tcccttatct ccttcgcagt gcagctcctt caacctcgcc atggcctctg 60 ccggaatgca gatcctggga gtcgtcctga cactgctggg ctgggtgaat ggcctggtct 120 cctgtgccct gcccatgtgg aaggtgaccg ctttcatcgg caacagcatc gtggtggccc 180 aggtggtgtg ggagggcctg tggatgtcct gcgtggtgca gagcaccggc cagatgcagt 240 gcaaggtgta cgactcactg ctggcgctgc cacaggacct gcaggctgca cgtgccctct 300 gtgtcatcgc cctccttgtg gccctgttcg gcttgctggt ctaccttgct ggggccaagt 360 gtaccacctg tttttatata aggattccaa ggcccgcctg gtgctcacct ctgggattgt 420 ctttgtcatc tcaggggtcc tgacgctaat ccccgtgtgc tggacggcgc atgccatcat 480 ccgggacttc tataaccccc tggtggctga ggcccaaaag cgggagctgg gggcctccct 540 ctacttgggc tgggcggcct caggcctttt gttgctgggt ggggggttgc tgtgctgcac 600 ttgcccctcg ggggggtccc agggccccag ccattacatg gcccgctact caacatctgc 660 ccctgccatc tctcgggggc cctctgagta ccctaccaag aattacgtct gacgtggagg 720 ggaatggggg ctccgctggc gctagagcca tccagaagtg gcagtgccca acagctttgg 780 gatgggttcg taccttttgt ttctgcctcc tgctattttt cttttgactg aggatattta 840 aaattcattt gaaaactgag ccaaggtgtt gactcagact ctcacttagg ctctgctgtt 900 tctcaccctt ggatgatgga gccaaagagg ggatgctttg agattctgga tcttgacatg 960 cccatcttag aagccagtca agctatggaa ctaatgcgga ggctgcttgc tgtgctggct 1020 ttgcaacaag acagactgtc cccaagagtt cctgctgctg ctgggggctg ggcttcccta 1080 gatgtcactg gacagctgcc ccccatccta ctcaggtctc tggagctcct ctcttcaccc 1140 ctggaaaaac aaatgatctg ttaacaaagg actgcccacc tccggaactt ctgacctctg 1200 tttcctccgt cctgataaga cgtccacccc ccagggccag gtcccagcta tgtagacccc 1260 cgcccccacc tccaacactg cacccttctg ccctgccccc ctcgtctcac cccctttaca 1320 ctcacatttt tatcaaataa agcatgtttt gttagtgcaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1380 a 1381 28 2527 DNA Homo sapiens 28 ggcacgagtc acagctgagg aagacctcag acatggagtc caggatgtgg cctgcgctgc 60 tgctgtccca cctcctccct ctctggccac tgctgttgct gcccctccca ccgcctgctc 120 agggctcttc atccccccct cgaaccccac cacccccagc ccgccccccg tgtgccaggg 180 gaggcccctc ggccccacgt catgtgtgcg tgtgggagcg agcacctcca ccaagccgat 240 ctcctcgggt cccaagatca cgtcggcaag tcctgcctgg cactgcaccc ccagccaccc 300 catcaggctt tgaggagggg ccgccctcat cccaataccc ctgggctatc gtgtggggtc 360 ccaccgtgtc tcgagaggat ggaggggacc ccaactctgc caatcccgga tttctggact 420 atggttttgc agcccctcat gggctcgcaa ccccacaccc caactcagac tccatgcgag 480 gtgatggaat gggcttatcc ttggagaggc acctgccacc ctgcggtcat tcctgttcgg 540 gggccgtggg gaaggtgtgg acccccagct ctatgtcaca attaccatct ccatcatcat 600 tgttctcgtg gccactggca tcatcttcaa gttctgctgg gaccgcagcc agaagcgacg 660 cagaccctca gggcagcaag gtgccctgag gcaggaggag agccagcagc cactgacaga 720 cctgtccccg gctggagtca ctgtgctggg ggccttcggg gactcaccta cccccacccc 780 tgaccatgag gagccccgag ggggaccccg gtctgggatg ccccacccca agggggctcc 840 agccttcagt tgaaccggtg agggcaggca atgggatggg agggcaaaga gggaaggcaa 900 cttaggtctt cagagctggg gtgggggtgc cctctggatg ggtagcgagg aggcaggcgt 960 ggcctcccac agcccctggg cctcccaagg gggctggacc agctcctctc tgggaggcac 1020 ccttccttct cccagtctct caggatctgt gccctattct ctgctgccca taactccaac 1080 tctgccctat ttggtctttt tatgccacct tgtctaagac aactctgccc tcttaacctt 1140 gattccccct ctttgtcttg aacttcccct tctattctgg cctacccctt ggttcctgac 1200 tgtgcccttt ccctcttcct ctcaggattc ccctggtgaa tctgtgatgc ccccaatgtg 1260 gggtgcagcc aagcaggagg ccaaggggcc ggcacagccc ccatcccact gagggtgggg 1320 cagctgtggg gagctggggc cacaggggct cctggctcct gccccttgca caccacccgg 1380 aacactcccc agccccacgg gcaatcctat ctgctcgccc tcctgcaggt gggggcctca 1440 catatctgtg acttcgggtc cctgtcccca cccttgtgca ctcacatgaa agccttgcac 1500 actcacctcc accttcacag gccatttgca cacgctcctg caccctctcc ccgtccatac 1560 cgctccgctc agctgactct catgttctct cgtctcacat ttgcactctc tccttcccac 1620 attctgtgct cagctcactc agtggtcagc gtttcctgca cactttacct ctcatgtgcg 1680 tttcccggcc tgatgttgtg gtggtgtgcg gcgtgctcac tctctccctc atgaacaccc 1740 acccacctcg tttccgcagc ccctgcgtgc tgctccagag gtgggtggga ggtgagctgg 1800 gggctccttg ggccctcatc ggtcatggtc tcgtcccatt ccacaccatt tgtttctctg 1860 tctccccatc ctactccaag gatgccggca tcaccctgag ggctccccct tgggaatggg 1920 gtagtgaggc cccagacttc acccccagcc cactgctaaa atctgttttc tgacagatgg 1980 gttttgggga gtcgcctgct gcactacatg agaaagggac tcccatttgc ccttcccttt 2040 ctcctacagt cccttttgtc ttgtctgtcc tggctgtctg tgtgtgtgcc attctctgga 2100 cttcagagcc ccctgagcca gtcctccctt cccagcctcc ctttgggcct ccctaactcc 2160 acctaggctg ccagggaccg gagtcagctg gttcaaggcc atcgggagct ctgcctccaa 2220 gtctaccctt cccttcccgg actccctcct gtcccctcct ttcctccctc cttccttcca 2280 ctctccttcc ttttgcttcc ctgccctttc cccctcctca ggttcttccc tccttctcac 2340 tggtttttcc accttcctcc ttcccttctt ccctggctcc taggctgtga tatatatttt 2400 tgtattatct ctttcttctt cttgtggtga tcatcttgaa ttactgtggg atgtaagttt 2460 caaaattttc aaataaagcc tttgcaagat aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2520 aaaaaaa 2527 29 2081 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (538) n equals a,t,g, or c 29 gggttctcaa tggaaaaata ttggtagaca tcagcaacaa cctcaaaatc aatcaatatc 60 cagaatctaa tgcagagtac cttgctcatt tggtgccagg agcccacgtg gtaaaagcat 120 ttaacaccat ctcagcctgg gctctccagt caggagcact ggatgcaagt cggcaggtgt 180 ttgtgtgtgg aaatgacagc aaagccaagc aaagagtgat ggatattgtt cgtaatcttg 240 gacttactcc aatggatcaa ggatcactca tggcagccaa agaaattgaa aagtaccccc 300 tgcagctatt tccaatgtgg aggttcccct tctatttgtc tgctgtgctg tgtgtcttct 360 tgtttttcta ttgtgttata agagacgtaa tctaccctta tgtttatgaa aagaaagata 420 atacatttcg tatggctatt tccattccaa atcgtatctt tccaataaca gcacttacac 480 tgcttgcttt ggtttactcc ctggtgttat tgctgccatt ctacaactgt accgaggnca 540 caaaataccg tcgattccca gactggcttg accactggat gctttgccga aagcagcttg 600 gcttggtagc tctgggattt gccttccttc awgtcctctm cmcacttgtg attcctattc 660 gatattatgt acgatgraga ttgggaaact taaccgttac ccagscaata ctcaagaagg 720 agaatccatt tagcacytcy tcagcctggc tcagtgattc atatgtggct ttgggaatac 780 ttgggttttt tctgtttgta ctcttgggaa tcacttcttt gccatctgtt agcaatgcag 840 tcaactggag agagttccga tttgtccagt ccaaactggg ttatttgacc ctgatcttgt 900 gtacagccca caccctggtg tacggtggga agagattcct cagcccttca aatctcagat 960 ggtatcttcc tgcagcctac gtgttagggc ttatcattcc ttgcactgtg ctggtgatca 1020 agtttgtcct aatcatgcca tgtgtagaca acacccttac aaggatccgc agggctggga 1080 aaggaactca aaacactaga aaaagcattg aatggaaaat caatatttaa aacaaagttc 1140 aatttagctg gatttctgaa ctatggtttt gaatgtttaa agaagaatga tgggtacagt 1200 taggaaagtt tttttcttac accgtgactg agggaaacat tgcttgtctt tgagaaattg 1260 actgacatac tggaagagaa caccatttta tctcaggtta gtgaagaatc agtgcaggtc 1320 cctgactctt attttcccag aggccatgga gctgagattg agactagcct tgtggtttca 1380 cactaaagag tttccttgtt atgggcaaca tgcatgacct aatgtcttgc aaaatccaat 1440 agaagtattg cagcttcctt ctctggctca agggctgagt taagtgaaag gaaaaacagc 1500 acaatggtga ccactgataa aggctttatt aggtatatct gaggaagtgg gtcacatgaa 1560 atgtaaaaag ggaatgaggt ttttgttgtt ttttggaagt aaaggcaaac ataaatatta 1620 ccatgatgaa ttctagtgaa atgacccctt gactttgctt ttcttaatac agatatttac 1680 tgagaggaac tatttttata acacaagaaa aatttacaat tgattaaaag tatccatgtc 1740 ttggatacat acgtatctat agagctggca tgtaattctt cctctataaa gaataggtat 1800 aggaaagact gaataaaaat ggagggatat ccccttggat ttcacttgca ttgtgcaata 1860 agcaaagaag ggttgataaa agttcttgat caaaaagttc aaagaaacca gaattttaga 1920 cagcaagcta aataaatatt gtaaaattgc actatattag gttaagtatt atttaggtat 1980 tataatatgc tttgtaaatt ttatattcca aatattgctc aatatttttc atctattaaa 2040 ttaatttcta gtgtaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa agggcggccg c 2081 30 1262 DNA Homo sapiens 30 gaaaaaaaca aacaaaacaa aaacatacta catggtgttc tttacttgtc tgtggttttt 60 aaatgaacat atattagtat gcaattgtag taatgtttca ctttgttatt ctctacctct 120 taaagaaaaa attaccttct tttacaatct aacacactac ttttttaaca ggtgttttaa 180 gcatctgttt gtatttgttg aacaaatatt tcttaacatt gtatatacca ggaacctaat 240 tgtatacttt tcagagttaa actatgcaat ctgttcttca gtaaatgaag ctttgaccgt 300 gcagtcaaat ccattaaaag ttcttccatg ggaaattagg agagtttcaa actcacagtg 360 tcttagtttg atttctgttc cttataacaa tacctgaaac tgggtaatta ataaagaaaa 420 ggaatttatt tctttgttat ggaggctggg aagtctaagg tcaaagggtg gcatctgtga 480 gagccttctt gctggtgggg actctgcagt gtcctggggc agcgcaggca ctacatggta 540 agggggtaag tgagctagtg tgttcgccca ggtctgtctt cctcatctta tgaagccacc 600 agttctcttc ctgtaataat ccattaatcc actaatccat tgagggactg atggcagagc 660 tctcatgatc cacgttgagg attaagtttc aacatgagtt ttggagggga catttaaacc 720 atagcacata gtaacaaagc tactttttct tacaggaatt tcagtaatca gagatttggg 780 gggaagctat gtggctatta ttataaaact gagttctaac agggcaaatc cagagttgaa 840 ttacttctaa ctctggtacc acagcagttg cctttttttc accactaaca aactttctta 900 aatatacgta cgaaatattt aaagcaccag ccaccccaac aaagagctgc ttatggctgg 960 gcgtggtgct gacgcctgta atcccaacag tttgggaggc tgaggcaggt ggatcacctg 1020 gtcaggagat cgagaccatc ctggctaaca cagtgaaacc ccatctctac taaaaataca 1080 aaaaattagc cgggcatggt ggtgggcgcc tgtagtccca gctactcaga gaggctgagg 1140 caggagaatg gcgtgaaccc aggaggcgga gcttgcagtg agccaagatc gtgtcactgc 1200 acttctgcct gggcgacaga gcaagactct gtctcacaaa aaaaaaaaaa aagggcggcc 1260 gc 1262 31 1804 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1593) n equals a,t,g, or c 31 gatcctatta cagctgccta cttccctgat gactagaggg caccgccaag cagtgtttac 60 caaaatcaac aggccagagc acagctgraa gatttctgca tgaatcccca gacagtgctg 120 ctcctgcggg tcatcgccgc cttctgtttc ctgggcatcc tgtgtagtct ctccgctttc 180 cttctggatg tctttgggcc gaagcatcct gctctgaaga tcactcgtcg ctatgccttc 240 gcccatatcc taacggttct gcagtgtgcc accgtcattg gcttttctta ttgggcttct 300 gaactcatct tggcccagca gcagcagcat aagaagtacc atggatccca ggtctatgtc 360 accttcgccg ttagcttcta cctggtggca ggagctggtg gagcctcaat cctggccacg 420 gcagccaacc tcctgcgcca ctaccccaca gaggaagagg agcaggcgct ggagctgctc 480 tcagagatgg aagagaacga gccctacccg gcggaatatg aggtcatcaa ccagttccag 540 ccaccccctg cttacacacc ctaatgccag ccctgggctc tcttcctcgg cagcccctcc 600 ctcaactctg cagctcctct cgcacccaga ggagctcctt tccccagcag gcctcactgg 660 taggatcctg accatcttct ccaaaccttc cccaggagag actctgcctt tagggtcatc 720 caagtatccc tgctctcaga accggaggtc cactggtttt ctataatgta ctctttccct 780 yctgccacat cctgccccct tcacattcac gagtcattac cagccaggga aggtcatcca 840 agtttcctcc agcatgggcg atatctttgg gaccgagact ttccttggag agctgctgag 900 agcggacagt cccaaaaaca agtgtcaaag ggcccaaggg aaaggggact gtgccctgga 960 ggctcacttc acagggatca gtgtttgctc cacagctgta gctctgggct gacgcccccc 1020 agaccccttc cttctcggag tgacccgccc ccaggccacc tgctccgggg agttctgtgc 1080 actttactct ttggacttct cctcacgtgt gccctggttt tatggggaga gggaatcgct 1140 gttgggaagg cagagcagtt gcaaccctct ctgcccttgc ttcatgtggc tggagcccag 1200 gcaaggagag caggagccag cgtgagactg aggccccctg gtgcctatca aggaccagag 1260 tgaaggggac tacatctccc agcccttcac cttttaaata tgagtggttt taaaaggaaa 1320 aaaatgaaac caggcaacag caacaatatt ctgtttttaa aatagggaca agactgttgt 1380 cactttttag acatgtatcc cattcctttt ggctctgcaa tatttggggc tgtagctcct 1440 tccaagccca tggtagtccc tccccgagtc tctcccagta gaatgcagcc tcccttccct 1500 ggccccttcc ctctcagtga cggtgactcc ctggggcctt ctcgtggaac ccagaggggc 1560 tgaggactgt ggcctggctg gcgggccagc gtnggtgctc ctcaggactg cagcactgag 1620 atggaacctg gcctcagttt aggaacaggg gccacaacag ggcaggaacc caccaccctc 1680 cacataggaa tacaaccagt nggggccaca tcatgtgagg catyagaccc acamtktyag 1740 ccagcaaggc gggstktgtt cttyaaacca ktgytgccta rattytgatt tnggggattt 1800 ccag 1804 32 1461 DNA Homo sapiens 32 aattcggcac gagccaaatg attatccttt taatcatgtt ctactccaaa aatatcagcc 60 tgatgatgaa tttccagcct ccgagcaaag cctggcgggc ctcacagatg atgactttct 120 tcatcttctt gctctttttc ccatctttca ccggggtctt gtgcaccctg gccatcacca 180 tctggagatt gaagccttca gctgactgtg gcccttttcg aggtctgcct ctcttcattc 240 actccatcta cagctggatc gacaccctaa gtacacggcc tggctacctg tgggttgttt 300 ggatctatcg gaacctcatt ggaagtgtgc acttcttttt catcctcacc ctcattgtgc 360 taatcatcac ctatctttac tggcagatca cagagggaag gaagattatg ataaggctgc 420 tccatgagca gatcattaat gagggcaaag ataaaatgtt cctgatagaa aaattgatca 480 agctgcagga tatggagaag aaagcaaacc ccagctcact tgttctggaa aggagagagg 540 tggagcaaca aggctttttg catttggggg aacatgatgg cagtcttgac ttgcgatcta 600 gaagatcagt tcaagaaggt aatccaaggg cctgatgact cttttggtaa ccagacacca 660 atcaaataag gggaggagac gaaaatggaa tgatttcttc catgccacct gtgcctttag 720 gaactgccca gaagaaaatc caaggcttta gccaggagcg gaaactgact accatgtaat 780 tatcaaagta aaattgggca ttccatgcta tttttaatac ctggattgct gatttttcaa 840 gacaaaatac ttggggtttt ccaataaaga ttgttgtaat attgaaatga gcctacaaaa 900 acctaggaag agataactag ggaataatgt atattatctt caagaagtgt gtgcaggaat 960 gattggttct tagaaatctc tcctgccaga cttcccagac ctggcaaagg tttagaaact 1020 gttgctaaga aaagtggtcc atcctgaata aacatgtaat actccagcag ggatatgaag 1080 cctctgaatt gtagaacctg catttatttg tgactttgaa ctaaagacat cccccatgtc 1140 ccaaaggtgg aatacaacca gaggtctcat ctctgaactt tcttgcgtac tgattacatg 1200 agtctttgga gtcggggatg gaggaggttc tgcccctgtg aggtgttata catgaccatc 1260 aaagtcctac gtcaagctag ctttgcagtg gcagtaccgt agccaatgag atttatccga 1320 gacgcgatta ttgctaattg gaaattttcc caatacccca ccgtgatgac ttgaaatata 1380 atcagcgctg gcaatttttg acagtctcta cggagactga ataagaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1440 aaactcgagg gggggccccg g 1461 33 1114 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1073) n equals a,t,g, or c 33 ttattaaatg aatatagcat ttcttagcaa cttcttttga tttgtgagta tatattttct 60 tggcctcaaa attaaagtaa aaagtatcct cttactcagw ggaggacagg ggcaagagcc 120 tgggmcctta tttgctaatt aaaatgcaca cacacacaca cacacacaga aattttgaga 180 gccattttaa tataattgcc tccctagaaa catacctttt agggaatttt tatcactaaa 240 ccacatgtta tttaaatacg tacatgttta acataaatac atacataaaa ttcacatgca 300 tacttaacac ttatgttaaa tatattcaat gtatatacat atgtacacaa tatatgcata 360 tatacatgtg ggtatgtggt atgtgtgcat gtgtgtgtat ggccagctac ataatttgtg 420 ggactaaggg caaaatgaaa ctgtacggcc ctcgttcaaa aattaggtgt ggggtgcttc 480 taagcacagt cttgtgcaac tgcacaggtt gcatgtccat gaagccatcc tgtgtgtgtg 540 cacatatgtg tatgaatatg tattttatat aatacatata tatgcatgta tgtatctgag 600 aagaaatgtt taaaaggcta catacaagct tttccaggtc tctactatct gktaactaac 660 tagagacata actcacaata tgcagtcccc actgagtgtt caccataatt tgagattctt 720 ggcatgktaa cttttcatta tggaatattg aataatttca atattattca tacatttctt 780 gatgttcaaa catacacaaa aatagaataa tgaaactcta cccatcaccc agctgcaaca 840 aatatcaata ctttaccgkt cttaawacat ctaacccctt actttttgtt tgtttctttt 900 ggtgaagtat ttaattgtaa tttttttttt aagagacagg atctcactck gtcacccagg 960 ccagagtaca gtggtacgat cacttgagcc taggaggtca aggccgcagt gagccgtgat 1020 cgtgttactg cattccagcc tgggtgacag agtgagatca tatctaaata agnataataa 1080 tcaaaaagag caacagagca tnccngttag aagg 1114 34 2235 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (867) n equals a,t,g, or c 34 gagcggaccg ggcgctcgca ggccggggct gtatggggct cccgcgcggg tcgttcttct 60 ggctgctgct cctgctcacg gctgcctgct cggggctcct ctttgccctg tacttctcgg 120 cggtgcagcg gtacccgggg ccagcggccg gagccaggta ggggctgccg agcgcagagc 180 ggggagggcg caggggcgac cagggcgcgg ggagggtccc cagcccaggg ctccccggcg 240 gcccgcagcc ctcagcccaa cctccgcgtg gacccctctg gggcagctct cagcgaggac 300 tcggccgcgg ccctttgtcg ccagaaccct ctcccagcct tgacctygcg mtgcccggac 360 cccgmggcct ttrcctgggt ccaaggaaga mctcgcccct gtkcactggm gamccgcccc 420 ggtgcccctt gttggtgaag tcctccccgg cctgataagt acactttcta ttgtcgaaat 480 ctggctgggt ccccgaagca gataaaaact tccttttttg tcgggaactc tccctcggta 540 acgtcagatt ctgctttttg ggcaggggcc caagtctccg gtttccaact tcgcggggam 600 cctccgtcgg gccgcggcca gtcgcctttc ccgcccgctg cggtctctgt ccgccccgcg 660 cccgctccct tctccccggc ttccgctcgc cgtgtctgga taagcccagt gcgggcgcga 720 tccgcgaaga ggcgggcgcc cgwgggaaag aggggygact cctggctcca tccgcgttct 780 cctccccgcg ccgcgtcctg cgctccactc cctcctcctc cctaggcact ttcctgggtg 840 tcccacgagg agaacctggg agccggnctc tagcaggtgg wggttccggt gactgaagaa 900 gccgcaaaac gatttcgctt agcttaagaa aggcggacca agccgtgcga agtctgggtt 960 tgggaggagg gaagggcccg gcagcctcag ggagaggcct ycagccccag cctttccctt 1020 cctggagctt ttccatctgc gcacccccta ccaaccttgc tggggggcta acgggatgaa 1080 aacaaaataa gkatctggtc tycacaratg ctgtcaaagg rtacaccaaa agttgcagaa 1140 caatgtgaaa cagcttgcca gtgatcagga gtccagcact cttagaacaa agggtgcttg 1200 ccccgcacgg tgacttaacg cctgtagtcc aagcactctg ggaggcggag gtgggaggat 1260 agcttgaggc caggwwttcg aggctgtgag ctgtgattgc actactgcat tccagcctgg 1320 ttgacagagc gagaccctgt ctcaaaagaa aaggaatcct tgtcactttt atgtaaagat 1380 gtttaaaaca caaagtatct caatgcaaag aaataataca tgtttgatat aagcctgggc 1440 aacatggcga aacctcgtct ctaccaaaaa tacaaaactt atccggggat ggtggtgcat 1500 gtctgtgctt ccatctatct attccgggag ctgaccaaga agatcccttg agtctgggag 1560 gtcgaggctg cagtgagctg tgatcgcgcc actgcactcc agcctgggca atacagcaag 1620 gtcctgtctc cagaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa gttcgaggtg atggatatgc taattagctg 1680 gtttgattat tacacattac atacacgtat tgaaatatca cactgtggcc gggcgcggtg 1740 gctcacgcct gtagtctcag cattttggga ggccgargca ggcggatcac gargtcagga 1800 gatccagacc atcctggcta acatggtgaa accccgttct actaaaaaat mcaaaaaatt 1860 agctgggcgt ggtggcgggc acctgtagtc ccagctactc gggaggctga ggcaggagaa 1920 tggcgtgaac ctgggaggtg gagcttgcag tgagccaaga tcgcgccact gcactccagc 1980 ctggtgacag agcgagactc catctcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa agaaatatca cactgtaccg 2040 tatacatatg tgcaagtatg tgacaattaa aaataatttt acaaaaagga agagacctga 2100 tctagcaact cagccccact ctgcatgtga cgtcctgccc caccaacacc aaggccctct 2160 ggctgccctg gaccactgcc tatggggtag ccctgctcca caaggagcag aaaaaaaaaa 2220 aaaaagggcg gccgc 2235 35 1853 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1840) n equals a,t,g, or c 35 ctgcaggaat tcggcacgag cacctataaa gaatctcaac ccacttccca ctcaaaagca 60 ctgtgtattt ctcatggcct gcctgggagc ccccatctcc agcctgctgt gctggctact 120 tctggcactt atagcccttg agatagtacc gccagcagct ccctgtgaag tgctaacacc 180 ccttcaaagc agcaccaacc caattgtgaa caagctagga gtaaaagacg taaatgaatt 240 ggtcacccca atgcagggga tacagacttg ttttaatata aaaaagaagt ggccttaacc 300 gtgcagggct tgcaggcctt tgtaggcatg ggagcatgct gtgatccctg gttctgtgct 360 aaacactcaa aagggctctc tgactcaagt ggaggtgata aaccttttca atagtaacag 420 gagagagtgt gatatcaaag tgccmgaasy cctcacggac caacatttag cacagacatt 480 caaactgctg aaagawccaa wcagaactca actgaaaaaa acagaccttt taagaaaagc 540 aatagatctt aatttggtgg caagatccct ggtttacctt ttgaagtcaa aatgttcaat 600 acatcacccg agcttgactt ttgagcactt ggcaagattg ttttttgcca cttgacacaa 660 gtatgatgtc cagctatgca aaatgactgt ttgatctgcc ttttcagtgt atttgtgtgg 720 cgatgtctgt aaaatgccag aagcctctta tgttattgct gctgctgcta ccagccagca 780 actgcagagg ccatgctgag gtgcctcctt gccaccagcc gttgggaaat gcctaccatg 840 ctgccccgga tgcacaagct caaaacgctg cagaagttac acaactgctc ccataatctg 900 gactctccaa aaccgtgatg ccacgaagga aggtcaagtt ttaaaatgtt aaagactgct 960 tgcctctgtt cctgagacta aacagtatac atactaacta cattgacaaa gaaatcctat 1020 ctgataatgt agcccgctga cgaattttga agcctcggtt accctaacca atatgtagct 1080 tttaatttgc atcaaaactt ttacaaagat gttttgctat tgtttctata tacttcaaga 1140 atgttcattt ttacaaataa gttgaacaag acagcctaag ttagatgcac cgaagtacta 1200 gaaatatcgc tagcctctgt tctccagttt agctttcaaa accaaatgag ccatgtataa 1260 aggagttgag aaacttaatt tttaaatgtt tcatttgcag agttttatat ccattaagtg 1320 cctttgaaag tttccagttg tgtgggctgc tgtctcacct cccaccaatt tctcctttct 1380 ccttatggtg ctaaaacctc aaagctgagg agggctgcag gacccttagc agattcagtg 1440 tgtcaccctt gtcctgtgtt cacgccaagg cttcctaaat gaaagacatc ggttacctgc 1500 ttatgggaag actcttcatg ctgatcggat cttgcattga aataaccatg tggaagaaca 1560 atgaatcgat taatgatgac atgtacaacc atatttaaag agcaatagtg tccgtgtgtc 1620 atgaaaaact tatttgtaaa cgtttatatg gtatgatttt gattttatgt atgttcataa 1680 atcctgcact gtatgatata tgtgagttaa aacattggtg catgaattta ttttcaaagt 1740 ataaaacaca tcacttaaac attttatgtg tcaaataaaa tttgattatg taaaaaaaaa 1800 aaaaaaaaac tcgagggggg gcccggrccc aattcgccan atggagatcc naa 1853 36 1465 DNA Homo sapiens 36 ccacgcgtcc gaagaaagaa gcggggcgaa taagcacggt tgagctacag aaaatggtgg 60 ctcgagtctt ttattatctt tgtgtcattg cactgcagta tgtggcgcct ctggtaatgc 120 tgcttcacac aactctgctt ttgaaaacac taggtaatca ttcctggggt atttatccag 180 aatctatctc taccttacca gtggataata gtctactgtc caattctgtt tactctgaat 240 taccatcagc tgaagggaaa atgaaggtaa ctgttacaca aataacagtg gcactgagca 300 gcttaaaaaa tatttttact cctcttcttt ttcgaggact tctgtctttt ctgacctggt 360 ggattgctgc ttgcctcttt tctacaagcc tttttgggct tttctatcac cagtatctga 420 ctgtggcatg aatctcagtt aacaaaaaag cataatccaa atcacccttt aaattaaaat 480 atctgtgccc ttaaagggct gatgaaaacc agaagaaagc aaatacaatg ggaaaaaaaa 540 aacatatcag aatgtcttgt attaaatgtt tcctctgtat tctcagggtg aattaatgta 600 gtaatattta aaattacaaa atagattgtt aactgttaca ctgtggcatt ggaattttaa 660 ctctttgtat ttactggtat gagagggcta tctacaaggg taatatttct gattaccctg 720 gtttacagaa acctccagca gtctttgaaa catctcacat gactctagtt attgattgct 780 tttaatggtt ttatggtact gttgatagtc atagtggctg cctatagaac aatcttcaaa 840 ctgagccatg ctttagggga gggaaagggg ctaaagtctc ttctgttggt aatttattag 900 ttactcttga aacagtaaaa tccaacagaa aggaagagat agctactgta tattacagta 960 aagaaagctg catagttatt ttaaatttaa tggagatgaa tatggttaaa atatataact 1020 actgctgctt gagaatagca agagtattgt tttaaaacat attccaccca acttgagagt 1080 tcttttaaaa tgattggcca tatgaacatt tgtaatcttg ccattaggtt tggacctgcc 1140 atattttgtt ttattctgtg atcctaacta gttcctttta ataggctaaa atatttatca 1200 atactgatca gactttaaag aaattacttt gtaaacctgc tgactacctg tatgtattgt 1260 atatatatta tatattaaat atataatata ttgagattat aaaagatgaa aatattgaat 1320 ccttataata ttttaagttg cagaatgtat gttaaaaagt gacttgaatg agatgtattt 1380 gtatctagaa attttatttc tttttggaat gagattaaaa tacattttga aagttcaaaa 1440 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 1465 37 985 DNA Homo sapiens 37 ggcacgagcg gcgccacgag gcggccggac ccgcagcccc gatgctgctg acgctggccg 60 ggggcgcgct cttcttcccg gggctcttcg cgctctgcac ctgggcgctg cgccgctccc 120 agcccggatg gagccgcacc gactgcgtga tgatcagcac caggctggtt tcctcggtgc 180 acgccgtgct ggccaccggc tcggggatcg tcatcattcg ctcctgcgac gacgtgatca 240 ccggcaggca ctggcttgcc cgggaatatg tgtggtttct gattccatac atgatctatg 300 actcgtacgc catgtacctc tgtgaatggt gccgaaccag agaccagaac cgtgcgccct 360 ccctcactct tcgaaacttc ctaagtcgaa accgcctcat gatcacacat catgcggtca 420 ttctctttgt ccttgtgcca gtcgcacaga ggctccgggg agaccttggg gacttctttg 480 tcggctgcat cttcacggca gaactgagca ctccgtttgt gtcgctgggc agggttctga 540 ttcagctaaa gcagcagcac acccttctgt acaaggtgaa tggaatcctc acgctggcca 600 ccttcctttc ctgccggatc cttctcttcc ccttcatgta ctggtcctat ggccgccagc 660 agggactaag cctgctccaa gtacccttca gcatcccatt ctactgcaac gtggccaatg 720 ccttcctcgt agctcctcag atctactggt tctgtctgct gtgcaggaag gcagtccggc 780 tctttgacac tccccaagcc aaaaaggatg gctaaatgct cctgggagtc aggcgcagcc 840 tcacaccagc tgcctcctcc actcagcatt ccatggacca aattgtgccc tgggtagcct 900 cagactttgg gtattgataa gccgatggat ttgagttttt ctaaagaata ttcatattac 960 ctccttaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 985 38 719 DNA Homo sapiens 38 ggcacgagcc tttcttggcc ttcatcttct cttcttacac tgctcctggg tgctatctgc 60 tttttgagtt ttagtcatga cctgtttccc tacgcgcttg gggctcagct gccccaaacc 120 tgccttcctc cttgtacccc tggccctggc ccagtgtgtg gtgccagctg ggttcttggg 180 gaagtgctgt ctgctgggga gactgatgtg tgcagagtgt attgggacgt actcatggga 240 tcagccccgt agaagggaag agatggaggc gagactggac agtgggagaa gctgggcctc 300 agtgctatat ggacacaggc ctcagctgca cggggagccc tgcactgccg tggcctgcag 360 acgtgtccca tgttgttctg agggggccgg gccattctcc tccctcactg accagcagtt 420 gaatgcagtc taccctgggt gatgtggttc tcttcagcaa ggagacaagg cttctgctga 480 cccagcaggg cctgtgcagc tgggaagccg tcggagagat ctctggcgat gggagggccg 540 gggcttcctg tccccgtgcc aggccctggg tgctcactgc tcccaggaaa gggtagggtc 600 ttgatgaagg gctcttgccc gtcaaggaca acttctgggg aggcagcact ctcccctggg 660 gaacgggcct ctcctccctg caggccgtct gggcgactca ttagtgcccc ctgcagtcg 719 39 1269 DNA Homo sapiens 39 ggcacgagca gggctaagcc tcctgtaaaa tgctctttaa gattattgta gcaagaacag 60 aaatgctgca tggctggggg tggggagaga atgccaacga gacagctgca tttcaaacag 120 ttacagctgc aaggattact catagtaata gcagtgacag acaactgttt gagctttagt 180 gtaaaaggca atttggggac ttgccctgtc agaattttag tagcaagctt ctgtgtgcac 240 gtgtgtgtgc atgtgcgtgt gtattttatt caaattagtt tgtgtctgaa gagtggaagg 300 aaatatttta aatttttact tctcaattgt gctaatgttg aaatcagtag ttgactcatc 360 tttattaaaa tcattgtcct agaggaagtt tataaaatgt ttatttgtag caatgatgaa 420 tttaaatgta tatgttctaa ctgaatcaca tgtctgcttt tccgtctcaa aatttatctt 480 gtgatgattc ctgttttaaa aatattggtt ttccttgtaa ttyctgaaca tacagccttg 540 tytaatatag gatccttatt ttaaaaattt atttcaaata tgatgtmagc ttataaaagt 600 aatgcctgtc atgaaatctg gaaaatactc aaagaggtaa aggagaaaac aatcattatt 660 ctagcagaga taactgtcaa ttttaaatcc ttctggaccc ttgtttatgc attctagagc 720 atattaagag catgttaatc atkttaaagg ttaaaaatgg taatcatttt aaaaaatatt 780 tggaagaagt agcaaatggg gacaaatttg gttttgagaa gtcaataaca gccattgtgc 840 aagatttctt tttcagtgtg cagctattaa agtaacattg cagcctgttt tctgtagcag 900 ttgtcttttg aaggccttgt acagtttatc tcgaaattta gttttatggt ttccttcaat 960 ttaaagtttg ctggctttac agggagtctt gtgatccatt gaaatgctaa cttgggtcgt 1020 gtctcaactg ctacaatgct gtgtagaaac tgtcattaaa attctggtta tcctgcaact 1080 ggcagagaac ccatgctgat tccttaggaa gatagtacac tgttaaaatt ttgaatcgca 1140 attgtgcttc tgtctgccaa atattatcaa tatttgtaat cacttaaggt tgaaatagtt 1200 tgaaataaat ggaacgtttt agtatgtatc ttctaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1260 aaaaaaaaa 1269 40 2528 DNA Homo sapiens 40 ccacgcgtcc ggtcagctgt ctgactgcag gcgtattgaa ccctgagctt ggctatgatg 60 cccttttagt ggggacacag actaatcttt tggcttatga tgtctacaat aattcggatt 120 tgttctacag agaggtagca gatggggcaa atgcaattgt gctggggaca ttgggagaca 180 tttcttcccc tcttgcgatt attggtggca attgtgctct gcaaggtttc aatcatgaag 240 gaagtgatct cttttggacg gttactggag acaatgttaa ttccttggcc ttgtgtgact 300 ttgatggtga tggaaagaaa gagcttcttg ttggatctga ggattttgat atccgagttt 360 ttaaggaaga tgagattgtg gcagaaatga cagaaacaga gatagtcacc tctctttgtc 420 ccatgtatgg cagtcgattt ggttatgccc tttccaatgg cacagttgga gtttatgaca 480 aaacatcccg atactggaga attaaatcga aaaatcatgc catgagcatt catgtttttg 540 accttaattc tgatggagtg aatgaactga taactggttg gtccaatggg aaggttgatg 600 ctcgaagtga ccgaactggg gaggtcatct ttaaggacaa tttttcttct gcaattgccg 660 gtgtggtaga gggagattac cggatggatg gccacataca gttaatctgc tgctcagtgg 720 atggggaaag taaattggga tgagaaaaat ccttaaaaag tcacgttttc catttgattg 780 ggtcaaaata tcaggaaatt tcacctgaag tatttgtacc gagatcctgt agttctaata 840 aattcaccaa agttggggag aacttaggtt tttgttttaa gagcaggtaa ttgatgacct 900 aaaagtatac ctggttatac ttgcggtttt ttccttctgt tcagtccggg gctacctgcc 960 tggcacggct gagatgaggg gcaacctcat ggacaccagt gcagagcagg acctgatccg 1020 agagctgagt cagaagaagc agaatctgtt gctggaactc cgtaactatg aggaaaatgc 1080 caaggctgaa ttggccagtc cactgaacga ggctgatggg catcggggca taatcccagc 1140 caataccagg ctccacacca cgctctcagt cagcctgggg aatgagaccc aaactgctca 1200 tacagaatta cgcatttcca cttctaatga caccatcatc cgagcagtat tgatttttgc 1260 agaaggaatt tttacaggtg aaagccacgt ggtacatccc agcattcaca acctctccag 1320 ttccatctgc atccctattg tgcctcccaa agatgtccct gtggatctgc acttgaaggc 1380 attcgtgggt tacagaagca gcacccagtt tcatgtattt gaatcgacaa gacagctccc 1440 tcgattctcc atgtatgcgc tgaccagcct ggaccctgcc agtgagccaa tcagttatgt 1500 taactttacc attgcagaac gggcacagag gtaaaactag aaagaaggag aactcttccc 1560 tcaagaatgg ctgtaccttc atatctagag gcacattaaa aaaaagaacg tctgtacctt 1620 aaaaatggag gtcatttcat tgtgttcatt ttcaaggttg ttgtatggct cggtcagaac 1680 tttctgttac cagaagacac tcacattcag aatgctccat ttcaagtgtg tttcacatct 1740 ttacggaatg gcggccacct gcatataaaa ataaaactta gtggagagat cactataaat 1800 actgatgata ttgatttggc tggtgatatc atccagtcaa tggcatcatt ttttgctatt 1860 gaagaccttc aagtagaagc ggattttcct gtctattttg aggaattacg aaaggtgcta 1920 gttaaggtgg atgaatatca ttcagtgcat cagaagctca gtgctgatat ggctgatcat 1980 tctaatttga tccgaagttt gctggtcgga gctgaggatg ctcgtctgat gagggacatg 2040 aaaacaatga agagtcgtta tatggaactc tatgacctta atagagactt gctaaatgga 2100 tataaaattc gctgtaacaa tcacacagag ctgttgggaa acctcaaagc agtaaatcag 2160 caattcaaag agcaggtcgt ctgcgggttg gaaaaccaaa gaaccaggtg atcactgctt 2220 gtcgggatgc aattcgaagc aataacatca acacactgtt caaaatcatg cgagtgggga 2280 cagcttcttc ctaggggcca agaaatgaag cttcaggcct gtgaagttgg agagcagcaa 2340 gaatagtgcc tcagagcgaa ataacttcat gcactccttc aatatctcag gaagcttact 2400 ctcctcagct ttctcataaa acctgaaaaa cagcaatgtc aagttgttca tcaaagccac 2460 agatgtaaaa tgactcacag aataaaagct gatcgttaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2520 aaaaaaaa 2528 41 1692 DNA Homo sapiens 41 ccacgcgtcc ggccgcgggg cgggcggcgg cggcggcggc ggcggccggg acccagcggg 60 ccaggtgggg acggcgcgga gcgggtgcgg gagatgccgt gcgggactgg ggccacctga 120 gccgcccgcc tcgtccccgc cttctgtggg aaggatgtgc gcgcggatgg ccggtcgcac 180 aacagcggcc cctcgggggc cctacggccc ctggctctgc ctcctggtgg ccctcgccct 240 ggacgtcgtg agagtggact gtggccaggc tcccctggac cctgtctacc tgccggcagc 300 cctggagctc ctagacgccc ctgaacactt ccgtgtgcag caggtgggcc actacccacc 360 tgccaactcc tctctgagct cccgatctga gacctttctg ctcctacagc cctggcccag 420 ggcccagcca cttctccggg cctcctaccc accttttgcc actcagcagg tggtcccccc 480 tcgagtcact gagccccacc aacggccagt cccatgggac gtgcgggccg tttcagtgga 540 agcggctgtg actccagcag agccctacgc ccgggttctc ttccacctca aagggcagga 600 ttggccacca gggtctggca gcctgccctg tgcccggctc catgccacac accctgccgg 660 cactgctcac caagcctgcc gcttccagcc atccctgggc gcctgcgtgg tggagctgga 720 gcttccctcg cactggttct cacaggcctc caccacacgg gccgagctgg cctacacgct 780 tgagcctgca gctgagggcc ctgggggctg tggctccggc gaggagaacg accctgggga 840 gcaggccctc ccagtggggg gtgtggagct gcgcccagca gaccccccgc agtaccagga 900 ggtacctctg gacgaggctg tgactctgcg ggtgcctgac atgccagtgc ggcccggcca 960 gctctttagt gctaccctcc tgcttcggca caacttcaca gccagcctcc tgaccctgcg 1020 gatcaaggtg aagaaggggc tgcatgtgac agccgcccgc ccagcccagc ccacactctg 1080 gactgccaag ctggaccgct tcaagggctc caggcaccac accaccctca tcacctgcca 1140 ccgtgctggg ctcacagagc cagattccag cagtcccctt gaactgtctg agttcctatg 1200 ggtggacttt gtggtggaga atagcactgg tgggggcgta gcggtcactc gccccgtcac 1260 gtggcagctg gagtacccag gccaggcccc tgaagcagag aaggacaaaa tggtgtggga 1320 aatcctggtg tctgagcggg acatcagagc ccttatccca ctggccaagg tgtctgaggc 1380 ctgtgatgcc gtgttcgtgg ctggcaagga gagccggggc gcccgggggg tgcgagtgga 1440 cttctggtgg cgccggctcc gcgcctcgct gcggctgacc gtgtgggccc ccctgctacc 1500 gctgcgtatc gagctcaccg acaccaccct cgagcaggtc cgcggctgga gggtacctgg 1560 ccctgctgaa gggcctgcgg aacccgctgc agaggcgtcg gatgaggccg agcggcgcgc 1620 ccgtggctgc cacctgcagt accagcgggc cggtgtgcgc ttcctcgccc ccttcgcggc 1680 ccacccgctg ga 1692 42 1605 DNA Homo sapiens 42 ccacgcgtcc gaatttcttc agtttggcta agggaatttt tttaaaacta attcagaact 60 tatgattcct ttttcatctc agaagttaac cctatggaaa atgtggcaat gtttctgaga 120 tttgcaaaat attgtgatag tatctatgtc ttattgctca agatctaaac tcttatgttt 180 gggagtaggg gtttgctgtg tatgtgtgta ttttttttta acatcttggc ctcacagtgt 240 aaagtgataa gctcaggagg aatgttgtgc tgcagaacgc ctacattact agattactta 300 cggcaacact ttctttaatg aggatctctg tgaaaccatc tttttttcca cttacagttt 360 caataagagg agatcagtat gaaattaagt aggagagaac aatatgagag agagagagaa 420 gagttcagca ttcctcttca agctagctaa tatttttaaa atgtcgacac tgttccagga 480 actctgcttt ttaggcaaag attctgccct ggtcttcgtc ctctccacac ccccagcatc 540 tcgtgggctg acacatcaac agggtttgag aaagagacac aaaaggtcag acgcatgaca 600 cagcaggaac ccaggaggac gtccctgcag cctgctctct tctaatagat ctcccccagc 660 ccccagttcc cagcctctga ccccagtccc acctttataa tgtccctttc tctctatttt 720 ctctccggta ccacttttcc ctccatttag ccctcctcct catcccctcc tgttatcaca 780 gctgagctct acaactgagc tgagcaatat atacaaaact caagcctggt ttaggcaggc 840 ctgacccctg ggataggtca gggcggtggt tccttgggag aattcctgct tgatgagatg 900 gaaggtccaa gtcaatagcc tcatggtccc cccaagtctg acagtctgct attctacaca 960 cctgtccaca ggctgcagac ttataaaggt aaatgttcag gtattagaaa atattcaaag 1020 aattctcaat gttcaaaatt ctgaaaagca aatctatgct gaatgtgtgg tggaggcatt 1080 ctaaaagata aaaaatgatg gctacaaaaa gccaagtata aaaagaaaca cgtacatata 1140 cacacacata cacctacaca tgtacattcg aagaggcaga ggagagacag agaaaataat 1200 taagacagca ttagttccta aatagccttt tctataaact ccatgacaac aaaggacaat 1260 gagtaaactg cagtatctaa agatttaaat ctcagaatac ctgccagatg ccaggcatgg 1320 tggttcacac ctataatccc agcactttgg gaggccaagg cgggtgaatg gcttgagttc 1380 aggagttcga gaacagcttg ggcaacatgg cgaaaccctg tctctacaaa aaatacaaaa 1440 attagctgag catggtagcg cacacctgta gtcacagcta cttgagaggc tgaggcagga 1500 gggtcaccta tgcccaggaa gtcaaggctg cagtgagctg tgatcacacc actgcactcc 1560 agcctgggtg acagagcaag accttgtctc aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 1605 43 2460 DNA Homo sapiens 43 actgcaggaa ttcggcacag gaggcatagg gctgcgtgtg aggagtggtc cattgcatgg 60 gcttcctcca gtttggcttt ggatttttga gctctctgaa tttgttgttt gtgtcctttg 120 cacagtgtcc ctcccaggtt gcacccatgc ctgcccctca gggtccccca ctcccagtga 180 atttcacacc atgcagcatg tactttaagc catacatctt acgtatgttc cagacatttg 240 gtaaaacgcc gtttatgtgt ttttcagtga ctcacaaaca ttttatttac gtagatgagg 300 aatgtactca ggcacccttc gtgatacctt gccctcagca ggcactcaac agcaataata 360 actttcattc cttttgtgct tctcttaaca gttcgtgttt agtaggagca cagtagctgt 420 ttggggaacg accttaagtg aatagatgtc tgaaatgctg tgtgaagtgg ggcgcttaat 480 aggtggtgag atggttttag aaccagggtt ttccctcttt gcttcttgac tccttaacca 540 gttttcatta ggagacccct ttggaggttt gcagtcagtc agagttgagt gcctactgag 600 tgtactgaat tatgaaatga gcacagttcc cattaacctg aattttttgc tcccaagtaa 660 gtcttgattt ctgatttatg actgcttttt gttgtacccc aatagtcgtc taagaaaggt 720 gattattttg agaggcctgg ggagacacac atgctcattc tcgagggtgg cggtggtgca 780 gagggcagag ccatgctcgt tcttgctatc ctgagattgg ttgctatctg tttcctttgc 840 tgctgtgttt ttttctgtca gtattaaagg tggaagaagg tccatatctt tttctgtggg 900 tgcttcaagt gttgttggaa gtggaggcag cagtgacaag gggaagcttt ccctgcagga 960 tgtagctgag ctgattcggg ccagagcctg ccagagggtg gtggtcatgg tgggggccgg 1020 catcagcaca cccagtggca ttccagactt cagatcgccg gggagtggcc tgtacagcaa 1080 cctccagcag tacgatctcc cgtaccccga ggccattttt gaactcccat tcttctttca 1140 caaccccaag ccctttttca ctttggccaa ggagctgtac cctggaaact acaagcccaa 1200 cgtcactcac tactttctcc ggctgcttca tgacaagggg ctgcttctgc ggctctacac 1260 gcagaacatc gatgggcttg agagaggagt cctgccaagc ccagaagttg tgctcttggc 1320 cttgcgtgct catctcggag gcggcagcaa cacttcgctt tggcttgaat ttcagtgtcg 1380 ggcatccctg cctcaaagct ggttgaagct catggaacct ttgcctctgc cacctgcaca 1440 gtctgccaaa gacccttccc aggggaggac attcgggctg acgtgatggc agacagggtt 1500 ccccgctgcc cggtctgcac cggcgttgtg aagcccgaca ttgtgttctt tgggagccgc 1560 tgccccagag gttcttgctg catgtggttg atttccccat ggcagatctg ctgctcatcc 1620 ttgggacctc cctggaggtg gagccttttg ccagcttgac cgaggccgtg cggagctcag 1680 ttccccgact gctcatcaac cgggacttgg tggggccctt ggcttggcat cctcgcagca 1740 gggacgtggc ccagctgggg gacgtggttc acggcgtgga aagcctagtg gagcttctgg 1800 gctggacaga agagatgcgg gaccttgtgc agcgggaaac tgggaagctt gatggaccag 1860 acaaatagga tgatggctgc ccccacacaa taaatggtaa cataggagac atccacatcc 1920 caattctgac aagacctcat gcctgaagac agcttgggca ggtgaaacca gaatatgtga 1980 actgagtgga cacccgaggc tgccactgga atgtcttctc aggccatgag ctgcagtgac 2040 tggtagggct gtgtttacag tcagggccac cccgtcacat atacaaagga gctgcctgcc 2100 tgtttgctgt gttgaactct tcactctgct gaagctccta atggaaaaag ctttcttctg 2160 actgtgaccc tcttgaactg aatcagacca actggaatcc cagaccgagt ctgctttctg 2220 tgcctagttg aacggcaagc tcggcatctg ttggttacaa gatccagact tgggccgagc 2280 ggtccccagc cctcttcatg ttccgaagtg tagtcttgag gccctggtgc cgcacttcta 2340 gcatgttggt ctcctttagt ggggctattt ttaatgagag aaaatctgtt ctttccagca 2400 tgaaatacat ttagtctcct caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaactcga gggggggccc 2460 44 1517 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (144) n equals a,t,g, or c 44 gttgagtctt tgggtgtgct tttaatggtc tctctgcctc ttccttaggt gtcaggctgc 60 tctacctgtt tctagacgct cttcctttcc cccttccaaa cctcttttct tccttgctgc 120 tttcctatct tctgtggcta gganatcagg taatcaagcc tgtgttttct gtaatgagta 180 agtgggttgc cagcgaggtc tctgtggatg ctcctgtgag tcaagtgcat gagctttagt 240 gcatggactt tggggtcttg gttcccacag cttatatgtt ttgggggctg ctttcttgct 300 ctttacccac attctgtgtc atgagtgtgc cgggtaggtg gcctcctgcc cgatggaggc 360 tgagcatctt ggcagtgtcc atcatgcctt gcgtgtgcct ggcctctttg ctgcagatac 420 tatggacccg cagctcatcc cctgctcacc acctggcctc tccttttctc tgtgtgcaga 480 tctggcagtg tggtggggkt ctggaaacac acccatgttc ccatgttggc catgttttcc 540 ccaagcaagc tccctactcc cgcaacaagg ctctggccaa cagtgttcgt gcagctgaag 600 tatggatgga tgaatttaaa gagctctact accatcgcaa cccccgtgcc cgcttggaac 660 cttttgggga tgtgacagag aggaagcagc tccgggacaa gctccagtgt aaagacttca 720 agtggttctt ggagactgtg tatccagaac tgcatgtgcc tgaggacagg cctggcttct 780 tcgggatgct ccagaacaaa ggactaacag actactgctt tgactataac cctcccgatg 840 aaaaccagat tgtgggacac caggtcattc tgtacctctg tcatgggatg ggccagaatc 900 agtttttcga gtacacgtcc cagaaagaaa tacgctataa cacccaccag cctgagggct 960 gcattgctgt ggaagcagga atggataccc ttatcatgca tctctgcgaa gaaactgccc 1020 cagagaatca gaagttcatc ttgcaggagg atggatcttt atttcacgaa cagtccaaga 1080 aatgtgtcca ggctgcgagg aaggagtcga gtgacagttt cgttccactc ttacgagact 1140 gcaccaactc ggatcatcag aaatggttct tcaaagagcg catgttatga agcctcgtgt 1200 atcaaggagc ccatcgaagg agactgtgga gccaggactc tgcccaacaa agacttagct 1260 aagcagtgac cagaacccac caaaaactag gctgcattgc tttgaagagg caatcatttt 1320 gccatttgtg aaagttgtgt tggatttagt aaaaatgtga ataagctttg tacttatttt 1380 gagaactttt taaatgttcc aaaataccct attttcaaag ggtaatcgta agatgttaac 1440 ccttggtatt tagaaaatta aaaccttata atatttttct awmaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1500 aagggcggcc gctctag 1517 45 3080 DNA Homo sapiens 45 ccctctaacc tccagagcta tggtctcaga tgcttccttt tagagagaag gtcattagtc 60 caccaagaag ccaaatgaca acaggaaagg tgatgggaag atgaaaacaa aggaaggtgg 120 acttttgggt atatgttata gccatgtatg tatgtcttct tttttctatt ttctcttgtt 180 cttcatctta actgtcctca atctgcccca caccaaccct gtgtcactcc cagcacacat 240 aagacagagc agaagacccc atccttgagc tggtctcccc tgggtatggg ctgaggtaac 300 atcccacaca ccaggacgat cttccctgcc tcccatcggt cacattaaga cattttcaaa 360 gtgtaatatt ataaatggac ctacctctaa atattgactt tacagttatt ttatgaggca 420 ctcaatttat agctaagggt tttcagtcta gtgtcatgaa agagataaaa gggtgttcac 480 agattattta agacataagg ctggtcaggg atgagtcaga gagtcattct ccatgaagtc 540 acccctggcc aactttgaaa ggaagaatgt ttaactgcac tttgggcgta aatgacaagc 600 atctgggacc ctccccttcc ctgatccctg ccaccaccac tcaatcggcc agataatcaa 660 ttgtttctga ggtcactttc acataatctt ggcaacttta gttgttgaaa gcatgcatgc 720 aggggcaaca tggtgttacc tgttgctttt tttttccccc ttctaagctc cttaccagag 780 agcagatcta aggatactgt gtaacttgaa ataaccggca ttttcagact ttgccatttc 840 atagtccata gggcaagcca tctttcaggg atatccacat ggtgggcagg aaatcttgac 900 attggcttct cagaaaatat ctgcctagtc acacctggga attcactaaa cacccaaatg 960 cagtgtttga tgtggcctta cctgctcctt gtatcttatt ggattgaatg agaacagatg 1020 caaaacaagt atgtacagaa atgccaggaa aactactgtc ttccaatggg gttcaacagt 1080 tcaaagccct ccattgatgg agccacttag gaggtttcag tgtcttaatt cttttagatt 1140 ttgacagttt tagaaaacta aaaaaaaaaa aaacaagttt ttatcgtgaa atttgattac 1200 aaaagatttt gagagaaatg ataagaacca gatctgaaga atttgaaatt tgaaaattca 1260 gcagagcatt tttttaaatg tatcttgtac aagatgaact aaataaatgt ttttaaactg 1320 acttcttttt ggtggatttc aaaagttaac cttcagactt atttagaggg ttttcataaa 1380 gcaagttttt ttctgttgct gctcaatttc tttcttttct tttctatctt ttcttttctc 1440 ttccttttgc tgttccctgt gtgtgaagca ggaggggcag ctgaaatgct ttgcatactc 1500 accctggtca ttttccagtt aggacaagct caaagggaga gcacagctca gaaggtggca 1560 ctcatgactc aggaaataat ttgtggctca tttgaaagca gcatcttcta agtgtgttgc 1620 aaaatagaga aaaatcaaca ggttgttggg gtgtttattt tccccactgc gtatgaaagc 1680 tggtgctgct gccctttgat ggccaagagg agctcctggc agccgtggcc atgtgtcccg 1740 gggtgtgtgg ggcaggcggc agttcttggc agccttctct gcagggctgc ttcctgacct 1800 tgcttcaaag ccttctgggc tgtagaccac acagagctca ccctcaagca gccacgctgg 1860 accacattgc tttcactgat tttgactcat ctcccccata gtgcagtgtg tccaaaggtg 1920 gctgtgggtg acacagccgt gtgttcgtgc tgtacggcac tgtggtcatg ggggtgacgc 1980 tggagctcct gattagtttg agttcaaatc ccagcctcgc tggtgggcat gcttagaaca 2040 gaccctagca ggcgccaagc cccagtaagt ggtggagtca ttggtaaagg ataatgctga 2100 atgcaggaca tttatatgga tgaaagagta tgggaaaggg aatttcagtg atatgaattc 2160 caaagcgtgt tagtatattt tataagaaac aaaaaggtat tcaccagcac caccaaactc 2220 catcatcagt cacaggcaac caagaattga tcactctccc agaactttgg gaggccgagg 2280 caggcagatc acgaggtcag gagatcgaga ccatcctggc taacacggtg aaaccccgtc 2340 tgtactaaaa atacaaaaaa aaaaaaagaa aaattagccg ggcatggtgg cgggaggctg 2400 aggcaggaga atggcgtgaa cccgggaggc ggagcttgca gtgagccgag atcacgccac 2460 tggactcctg cctgagtgac agagggagac gccgtctcaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2520 gaattgagca ctcaagtccg tcttctaaac tgcctgaacc tcttgagatg agaagaacaa 2580 aacaaacctg cgctgtcctg atgtaggtta ccctaatgga gcttcctggg ttctcctctc 2640 cctgtcacat ctcagggact ccaccttatt ttaaagctgt cttactagca ctgttggact 2700 tttctgtttc agatgctcaa acaagagatg gagcaggggc agggtttggg gttaaatggg 2760 ctggaggtga gattggcccc cctaaggtgt tgaggacact tggggtgaaa gtcgttaggg 2820 tatatgtagg tcagagccag ggccgctgcg tgcacagagg tctgtcatgg agcggccagt 2880 aggcaccaaa atccagccaa agctcggcca tgagagctgg gtagcggcag gggtgacaac 2940 agtggccacc ctggtaaggt taaggtcaga cttgggttag tctaagctgt cagagggtgt 3000 tcatcatttt tcttaccttt ccaatagtga ccctattcca aaggccttgt ttcttgtgcc 3060 agagaagaaa ctaaagtata 3080 46 2204 DNA Homo sapiens 46 ccacgcgtcc gctttccccc acattttcca agctctgggc agctggagta actgtgtgta 60 cagacttttc tatgtgcgtg tgtgggtgca tgtatgagtg tgtgtgtgtg tttgtgtgtc 120 tgtgtattta taggggaatg agagtgccct gggtgtgcac tttagatatt cctctgtaca 180 tcctgtgtgt gcttacatgg acacattctg tgtacttata ctgtgtgtat acacatgtgc 240 agcccatatg tccatacata ggtgtgtgtg tatactatgt gtgtactttg tccacttatg 300 gatgtgtgtg tgtaccattg agtccatatc taggagagag agagaatgtg tgtgtgtgtg 360 tgtccatgta tggatgtgtg gatattctat gtctgtattt agagtgcagg tatatggatg 420 ttcatgtgct gtgtgtgtgt gtgcgcacac acactctgcc tctttgtgtg tgtgcatgtg 480 tataccttgt gtgcccatgt atcgggggtg tgtgtaccct gcttgtctat gtatggggga 540 gcacatgtag cctgtgagtc ttattctgct gggcagtgtg tggagtggtg gggaggctga 600 gcatgaaagg ccacttgtgc cagttggagg agggtgggcc gctgctgcct gctgcctcag 660 gacttggtgg gcctgtggga ggccgggctc cacccaccag ccttccctgt tctcggtccc 720 cagtttaaga ggcgagttca ggagtccacg caggtgctac gggagctgga gacctccctg 780 aggaccaacc acattgggtg agtgagggct cagatcttcc tctctgggcc taggaaggct 840 ctgcttccag gcagctcctg gagcttcccc ttcctactcc ccctgccccc tgcacaaggc 900 tgtgcttgtg gaccacctcc tggaggtgtc caggacagct tcccctcccc ttcctgccca 960 tgctctgact ggcaccttga ggcatggctg ggctgtggga cccacctgag tctcccagaa 1020 tcctttggta tcattgggtc tttgggggtt gaaagggcac cccaggggtc cttgctgtcc 1080 ctgttctgtg cccatgtggg gcaggacctc ctttctggct ggagctcagg gagccctgtg 1140 cccacaggtg ggtgcaggag ttcctcaatg aagagaaccg tggcctggat gtgctgctcg 1200 agtacctggc ctttgcccag tgctctgtca cgtaagcccc ctgctcccag ccctcatgcc 1260 gctcctcaga gctttgatcc ccgtctccct gcatctcacc cactcccctg gccagtttca 1320 agccaggcag ccgagcctac cctggaaccc tccacttggc cttgagcgat gctccttcca 1380 gaaggcctgc ccccgacagg gaggggtggc tctcttccac cactatgttc agcacagtgc 1440 caagaacaca gcctcctcct cctgctcctt agtctcacct gcaggtctgt ctctccttgc 1500 gtttcctctg ccccctttta agtggcccct gcagtgttgg cctccagccc cattgcatcc 1560 tgtccccagg tatgacatgg agagcacaga caacggggtt ccaactcaga gaaaaacaag 1620 cccctggagc agtctgtgga agacctcagc aagggtccac cctcctccgt gcccaaaagc 1680 cgccacctga ccatcaagta tgtgggccac aaagtggggt ggtgggagaa cagagaattc 1740 agcccccaca ctgctgcatc tagccagccc accccgggcc cttggggttg gcgagagggg 1800 tagccatgca ttaggggtcc gagtaaggga ctcatacaga gtttgggaca ccagtatgtt 1860 aagaagccat caggggtggg gctgggtgct gtggctcatg cctgtaatcc cagcactttg 1920 ggagactgag gtgggcagat catttgagga catgagtttg agaccagcct ggctaacatg 1980 gtaaacccca tctctactaa atacaaaaat agccgggttg gtggtgcacg ccttaatcct 2040 agctactcag gaagctgagg tgggagaatc gctggagccc aggggatgga ggttgcagtg 2100 agctgagatc gcaccactgc actgcagcct gggtgacaga gtgagaccct tctcaaaaaa 2160 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 2204 47 1998 DNA Homo sapiens 47 ggcacgagaa caatttccct tgtacataat atacttatgt acttatacca ttgactctgt 60 aagataaaag tcttagaaat ggggttgcca agtcaaaggg tctatgcatt taacacaggg 120 aatgagtact gtcacgtggc ttctgaaact gtttacccag tttatgttcc caccaacagt 180 gtctaattcc catacctgtg ctaggtatta tgtctttaat ttttgtctga ttatttcatt 240 taattttaat ttccattatc actggtgagg ttgggcttct gttcagtttt tttgtcattt 300 atgtttcttt tgtgaattgc cttttcctat gctttgtgca tttttctctt ggggtttgtc 360 tttttaaaat tgatatacag gtgttctcta taatatagat attctgccac tatatgcaaa 420 tgatcttcca atttatttat ttatttgaaa cagagtttca ctcttgtcac caggttggag 480 tgcagaggtg cgatcttggc tcactgcaac ctccacctcc caagttcaag cgattttcct 540 gcctcagcct ccctagtaac tgggattaca ggtgccctgc caccatgccc ggctaatttt 600 tgtatttttg gtagagacgg ggttttgcca tgttggccag gctggcctcg aactcctgac 660 ttcaggtgat ctgcccacct cagcctccca aagtgctggg attacaggcc tgagctaccg 720 caccggcccc aatttatttc ttttaactta gtttatggtg cctttagctg tacaaaagtt 780 actaattttt agtcaaatat ccagcttttc ctttagggct tcttatatgt cctgatccaa 840 ggattatttt ttaaaaattc ttccgtattt tctcctataa tattcatagg ttactttaca 900 attagatttt taatacatct cctaactttt tcatatagta tgaggtatcc atttttaaaa 960 aatggatatc cagttgtgcc catatgtctt ttccactcat ctgaaatgcc accattatca 1020 tattttcaat tttcatgtgc acgtgggtct gttttcaaac ttggagattc tcttccactg 1080 atatatgtct attcttgtgc cagtggttta actgctattg ctttatagta tattttgata 1140 tcttcttttc aaaaggatac tcttgtgtat tctttttttc atcttgtgta ttctcatcca 1200 ttttccagaa aaccacagaa tcaactttaa gtttcatttc attaagtcag attagtgaga 1260 gctgattttc tgtgtatcat gttcattcag aaacatagtc tatctctcca tttaggggca 1320 cttgttttat attttctttc taacacgtat tttgttgggt ttattgtacc tttttttttt 1380 ttaacttcag attcaggggg gtgcacgtgc aggtttgtta cctgagtata cgatatgata 1440 ctgaggttgg agtatgaatg atgccattac ccaggtactg ggcataatac ccaatagtta 1500 gtttttcaac ccttgccctt ctccctctct cctccctcta gtagtcccca gtttctaata 1560 ctgccatctc catgttcatg agaacccagt gtttagctcc cacttataag tgagagcatg 1620 ttgcatttgg ttttctgttc ctgccatatc ctttgtaggg acatggatga aattggaaaa 1680 catcattctc agtaaactat cgcaagaaca aaaaaccaaa caccacatat tctcactcat 1740 aggtgggaat tgacaatggg aacacatgga cacaggaagg ggaacatcac actctgggga 1800 ctgttgtggg gttggcggag gggggaggga tagcattggg agatatacct aatgctagat 1860 gacgagttag tgggtgcagt gcagcagcat ggcacatgta tacatatgta actaacctgc 1920 acaatgtgca catgtaccct aaaacttaaa gtataatata aaaaaaaaaa agaacaaaac 1980 ttaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1998 48 2069 DNA Homo sapiens 48 ggcacgaggg ctctactccg ggcacagcat gcaggcccag ttctgctgct ctgctgtttg 60 ttctgctttc ctccacatat tggcatcacc ctctggtgcc aagatggctg ctgcattcca 120 ggcatcacat ccagactcag acccagagaa gctgcccatc cctacctggg tgagcctttg 180 taggaacgag aaaccgcatc cagcagcaga aacctcaccc agcagcgtct tttccggtct 240 cattcaccag cgccgcccac cgctcaacca atccctggcc aaaagaatgg gaccgcctgg 300 aaggctggac caaacaggac ctgccctctg gggctgggga gaggcccaga tgaaggctgc 360 aggacaggat ggactcctag acctctgtta ccagcagtga ctacctctgt ctgggtggtt 420 ggaacatgtt tgaattttat tctaagtact gtctacaagt tctgcaataa accttgactc 480 ttcttttaat aatgcaaaag gaatcgaagt gattgtttga aagggagagg aagaaagaga 540 gaaggaggga gggaagaatg gagggaggca gggaaggaga cagagagagt agaatccagc 600 caccggaaaa tccagaatag ctggctttgc ttaatccatg cctggaaata actgctgggt 660 ttgcaacaac ttctctcccg gagacagacc aaggaaacta caaaactgca ggaaggattg 720 aagggccggg acagtggctc acgcctgtaa tcccaaagtg ctgaattaag cagctcacca 780 tccacacggc tgacctcata catcaagcca ataccgtgtg gcccaagacc cccaccataa 840 atcacatcat tagcatgaac cacccagagt ggcccaagac tcccagatca gctaccaggc 900 aggatattcc aagggcttag agatgaatgc ccaggagctg aggataaagg gcccgatctt 960 tctttgggca aggttaagcc tttactgcat agcagaccac acagaagggt gtgggccacc 1020 agagaatttt ggtaaaaatt tggcctctgg ccttgagctt ctaaatctct gtatccgtca 1080 gatctctgtg gttacaagaa acagccactg accctggtca ccagaggctg caattcaggc 1140 cgcaagcagc tgcctggggg gtgtccaagg agcagagaaa actactagat gtgaacttga 1200 agaaggttgt cagctgcagc cactttctgc cagcatctgc agccactttc tgccagcatc 1260 tgcagccagc aagctgggac tggcaggaaa taacccacaa aagaagcaaa tgcaatttcc 1320 aacacaaggg ggaagggatg cagggggagg cagcgctgca gttgctcagg acacgctcct 1380 ataggaccaa gatggatgcg acccaagacc caggaggccc agctgctcag tgcaactgac 1440 aagttaaaaa ggtctatgat cttgagggca gacagcagaa ttcctcttat aaagaaaact 1500 gtttgggaaa atacgttgag ggagagaaga ccttgggcca agatgctaaa tgggaatgca 1560 aagcttgagc tgctctgcaa gagaaaataa gcaggacaga ggatttgctc tgcacagaga 1620 tggaagagcc gggaacagag aagtgtgggg aagagatagg aaccagcagg atggcagggg 1680 caaagggctc aagggtgagg aggccagtgg gaccccacag agttggggag ataaaggaac 1740 attggttgct ttggtggcac gtaagctcct tgtctgtctc cagcacccag aatctcatta 1800 aagcttattt attgtacctc cagcggctgt gtgcaatggg gtcttttgtg gaaatcaagg 1860 agcagacagg tttcatgtgt actgtcacca cgtgggatgg aaccagaggc atggaagcaa 1920 gacgctaaat gaagagggcc ataagggctg ggattcccag gctccttagg aacagcttgt 1980 cttttttttt ttcctctcca aaaaaaatgt ttaagggacg gtgacaagag tgagactctg 2040 tctccaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 2069 49 924 DNA Homo sapiens 49 ggcacgagag acctccagac aatcccagaa gactctattg acttattctg tcctgtttct 60 ctttctaagc atgaaaatcc agcaacacgg tttccacagg ctcctgaaag tgtcctcgga 120 gctcggttct tagctcacct ctgtgaccct tcctgagttt gcttttcacc catgggttgc 180 tgacctattt cacccattcg gggtgatatg ataactaagc caagtaaaag gggcataatt 240 tactgcctgc ccctgctttt ccaattatcc catttgagcc tcgctaatct tttcctcacc 300 tctctcacct ctcctcacct caccgagttc ttccatttgc tctgtcagac cactgggtat 360 agtgatgata acctgctttc actcccggtg tcatctcaaa caaaggcctg cttcaccaaa 420 tggggtgttt cagcagcgag cagctcacct ctcacccaca gctgctctgc acgtggctca 480 gggagagtct ctgagcacag atgtggaatg cagagtcccc ggcctcatgc tcacccttct 540 tttagctgta catcagcaaa ttctagttgg cttacctgtg caagttggtt ggagtctctg 600 taacactgat ggtcctaaat tgctctgtgg aagacaaggt ctcatgcttc tcacaggaca 660 tcattgccaa gcaagtaaac ataagtcaca aggtctttga aaatttgcta ggtactctgg 720 ccatgagctc cactagactt ccctccaagg atgacatcca gctgtatgag atagtttaaa 780 gagatgcaaa tgcacccaaa caggattatg cacaggattt taatttgcct gtgcctaaac 840 agttactcta agaaaatttt caaatcaaca ctttggtgtt attctctgat atggtttgac 900 tctgtgtccc cacccaaatc tcat 924 50 2520 DNA Homo sapiens 50 acgagcgcct tgaggaggat gagtccctgg agctggttcc tgctgcagac cctctgcctc 60 ctgcccacgg gcgcagcttc gcggcgcggg gcgcccggca ccgccaactg cgagctcaag 120 ccccaacaaa gcgagctgaa ttccttcttg tggaccatta agcgagaccc accatcttac 180 ttctttggca caatccatgt cccgtacacc cgagtttggg acttcatccc cgacaactct 240 aaggaggctt tcctgcagag cagcattgtg tactttgagt tggatctcac agacccctat 300 accatctcag ctctcaccag ctgtcagatg ctgccacagg gcgagaacct ccaagatgtg 360 ctccccaggg acatctactg ccgcctcaag cgccacctgg agtatgtcaa gctcatgatg 420 cccttgtgga tgaccccaga ccagcgcggc aaggggctct acgcagacta cctcttcaat 480 gctattgccg gaaactggga gcgcaagagg cctgtctggg tgatgctcat ggtcaactcc 540 ctgactgaag tggacattaa gtcccgtgga gtgcctgtct tagacctgtt ccttgcccag 600 gaggctgagc ggctgaggaa acagactggg gcagtggaaa aggtggaaga gcagtgccat 660 ccattgaatg ggttgaactt ttcacaggtc atctttgctt tgaaccagac cctcctgcag 720 caggaaagcc tgcgagcagg cagtcttcag atcccctaca cgacggagga tctcatcaaa 780 cactataact gcggggacct cagctccgtc atcctcagcc atgacagctc ccaggttccc 840 aattttatta atgccacgct accacctcag gagcgcatca ctgctcagga gattgacagc 900 tacttacgcc gggagctgat ctacaagcgg aatgagagaa tagggaagcg ggtgaaggcc 960 cttttggagg agttccctga caaaggcttc ttctttgcct ttggagctgc ttcacagtag 1020 ccttgaaaat caggagcctt gaactacagt agctgtgaaa actgtttgcc taatggttac 1080 tggaggggac agaatgggtt caaagttcct ccaaagctcc atccttaaag aatcatcact 1140 atttgacatg tccaatagtt ccctgaaatt tccattccca agcttgtctt catttgacct 1200 gactcagagc ttgctctgtg tgaatagccc tattcttagg gtgtgtgttg aaaacaatca 1260 gtagcagctg tttaacatca tagttgctgg aaatagcaat attaattgaa gcttacaagg 1320 ggctgcccaa aaaacttaaa agcaaaatcc catagggggt atagaaaagc tctaaaatat 1380 tcctagagag tcacatgcat gagaagagct gtgcacatgc ccaggaaaga cctgagaagg 1440 tcctaatctc tcacctctgg ctgatcttga ggctctgtgt aagcagagtg tgaaagctaa 1500 ggcaaagtca taaattgcct gttgaagcat caaatacatg cccccaaact cacacagccc 1560 ctctgcaaag gttgggaaac ttgcaaggaa tttaaggaaa tctctgttca gtcattagcc 1620 agccactaaa ctaactgagc agatccttca gtgatcacac acaacaaaga atacagactt 1680 tacagactta gtcctagaaa atcactacac aaacagcaac aacaatgcac ctgggactaa 1740 gggagaggag atgagttcca gagttggtat attatttaaa tgtctagttt tcaataaaaa 1800 caattataag acacagagca aaactagaaa gtatggccca tacccaggga aaaacaagca 1860 accaatagaa gctgtccttg aggaagttaa tatcttggac ttactagaaa atgactttaa 1920 cactagttat tataaatatg ttcaaaaaac taaaagaggc caggtgcgga ggctcacgcc 1980 tataatccca gcactttggg aggctgaagc aggtgggtca cctgaggtca ggagtttgag 2040 accagcctga ccaatatggc aaaaccctat ctctactaat aatacaaaaa ttagccaggc 2100 gttgtggcgc acacctgtaa tcccagctac ttgggaggct gaagcaggag aactgcttga 2160 aactgggagg aagaggttgc agtaagctga gatcacacca ctgtactcca gcctgggcca 2220 caagagtgaa actccatctc caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaccctaa aattaaccat 2280 atctaaagaa ttaaaggaaa gtttgagaac aatatctcac caatacagaa tatcaataaa 2340 aatataaaaa ttattttaaa agaaccaaat aggaattctg gaatttaaag tgtaggaact 2400 gaaatgaaaa attcactacg ggggctgaac agtagatttg aactggcaga agaagaatca 2460 acatacatga agataggttg attgagatga ttcagtatga gaaagaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2520 51 3337 DNA Homo sapiens 51 ggttgatttc ccctcaactt tccacaggta tcttaaaagc tttgctcact catcccttct 60 ctgacttagg atttgagcat ctttctgtta tgctgttgcc ccactcctat tgcaatactc 120 ctcttcttaa gaaagttttt ctagactaat gtctagatta aacttctttt ctttgacaat 180 aatgatgcca tgacttggac aaaatgccca ttgcctctgg gtcctgcttt cttcacccag 240 tgctgcctta ttggactcct tgtgcctctc cttggctggg gaaatcagaa tacacagtgg 300 tatcccactt ctaagatgcc tgatctgaag gacagtaaaa caactgacct ttgccagcat 360 gtaaaacaca tggtttaact agtcctccag gaacaacamt gagcaatcct gacctgggac 420 tactttactc ggccatctcc tacttgagat gctccttgtc tctctgttca aggacacctt 480 ttctgagcct ttcttgaaca agagtggagg accgataggc gattaaactg tccttgacac 540 aactttagag cttcwactga gaatctagaa gagagtagat ggaaaaatat ttttccctcc 600 cctccaaatg caaggataat cttacacgag tccaggagga aggctcattc cacactaagt 660 gttctgaatc aaaaagatga acaaaataca gtgccattct tcaaggrctt cacagtctac 720 aggaaagggw tatagttaaa caaataactg cagaattgga aattggagct gatgtgctta 780 gaagtgtttt gaacaagggg catgactgtg actctctctg cttttgcaag cttcaggaaa 840 acctttactc acagttgaaa atacagagcc tcagggtgaa gccctaactt cccacagcag 900 atggggtcta tgaggaggaa gaagtagacg catggaccag tcctgttatg aagacaagtt 960 tcatggtgct actgtgtctc catgagctcc tatggcccag aagctggcat cctgtgagtg 1020 gacggagtct tgctcggtcg cccaggctgg agtgcagtta aatgaaaaaa cgtacccaga 1080 cagaggttct aaaacagcac caaaatatta atttaatgag tggagawtag ttttctttat 1140 caacactaca attttctttt cttttttttt tttttttttt ttttgagacg tagtctcact 1200 ctgtcgctca ggctggagtg cagtggcaca atctcggctc actgcaagct ccgcctcccg 1260 ggttcacacc attctcctgc ctcagcctcc caagtagctg ggactacagg tgcccaccac 1320 cacgcccagc taatgttctg tatttttagt agagatgggg tttcactgtg ttatctagga 1380 tggctcgatc tcctgacctc gtgatctgcc cgctcggcct cccaaagtgc tggaattaca 1440 ggtgtgagcc acattgcccg gcccatttat gktgktttta tccatctaac cagccaccat 1500 atattgtgtg cttcccatgt accacaacac attctgagaa cttgccacac atgctctact 1560 ttcgtcttca catcaacaat gtgaatctta agctgtgctg aattttgtcc aaaatgactc 1620 agataggaaa aggcagaata aggaatacat tccagttgtc tccaaagtcc acccttttct 1680 aagtgtcaca ttatattgtc cttgccactg gcacacagct taaataaaag tcaaaccatg 1740 agaagccata gaaagtaata tcagagtaca ggtgagaagt tgcacttaca taaatgatca 1800 ttcaagactt cctggagaag gcacgagttg tcctttggag tgaccaagac tcacttccaa 1860 gtagaaagct cagtaatttt gcttgagaga tagcatggaa agggcccagt cttcagagtg 1920 tggctgactt gaatttgagc tctatcttca tctattrcta cccatgtgcc tctggacatc 1980 ttacttaacc tctctgaatc ttcatcttgt cattgtgaga aacctgattg acttgttgta 2040 aagattaaag aaatcatgaa acacatctag tccaaaactg atactatagt agacatttaa 2100 caagtgatgt ttgatttaat tcaagtctct aggttatagt aagacaatgg caaaatatta 2160 attaatcagc ttctccagtt tgtgcgtttg agaagggtaa gccaaaggag gactttgttt 2220 tcatatctca tattgcatcg tttgtcataa aaattacaca tttatacaag cgcgcacaca 2280 cacacacaca cacaggcaca aacactcaga catgagccac aatccacaat gaaggagtgc 2340 ttagagtgct taggcaccat aataaacttt cacataaagt acagcagtag cattcttaat 2400 taaaatctct aaagtactct tgttgttgac aatatcrcca cccaaagcca tatttacctt 2460 gttaattatt caagttgcag tgaataagaa acaatgccca ggcttcccat aaaatttcca 2520 aaaattaaac cagggaaatg ggcaataaat gtcatttgaa atggaactga tgccagttaa 2580 ttacaagaca actgtaaaat aatggggcat gaggttcttc aacaatgcct aattagtaac 2640 tatatgggca tttccttgga aaaaatggca attacacggt gcaaacactt agcagtcatc 2700 atcaaaggcc cttaaccaat attagctaat taatcttccc tacaacactc cagcaggagg 2760 cagcacaagt cctcattgag ggagggagaa kggaagccaa aagatgaaat ggaaaatcct 2820 cttctgctca gcatctgtaa agaacaattt gacactcgca gcctagaagc actcaggagg 2880 gattcccagr ccaagagaga gagttttcct taatgataag gttaatgtgg tgaacaccta 2940 gcttcctcct gatttgctgc catggctcac atccttgctg tccycgagaa ctccccacac 3000 caaattgctg ttgcaggcac acatgcactc ttgcgcttat caaccctttt ctctttttct 3060 cagcaagaag gcttttgacc tcaaatatat aaaaccaatg gggggagaag gaagctatgc 3120 ctctttccac aaagccaagc ttgttatatt ataacatgat ccacagcttt tgatttcaac 3180 ttaatgtatg agatctggaa ttatttcaga agtatgattg attttgatca ggtgaagata 3240 ttttaaaaga agtgaattat ctcttatgtt acttaattta atccacatta aagatttatg 3300 acaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaggg cggccgc 3337 52 1947 DNA Homo sapiens 52 gttgaagcag aatggctgca agatgtgggt ttatcaactc tgatctcagg tgatgaagag 60 gaagatggca aagccttgct ctccacattg actcgaaccc aagcagctgc cgtgcaaaag 120 agataccata cctataccca aaccatgagg aaaaaggata agcaatctat cagggatgtc 180 agagacattt ttggagtcag tgaatctcct cctcgtgata cctgtggcaa ccacactaat 240 cagctggatg gcaccaagga agaaagagag cttccaagag ttatcaagac aagtggttcc 300 atgccagatg atgcttctct caacagtact accctgtctg acgcatccca ggataaagaa 360 gggagttttg cggttcccag gagtgactct gtggctatac ttgagaccat tccagttcta 420 ccagttcatt ccaatggatc accggagcct ggacagccag ttcagaatgc gataagtgat 480 gatgattttc tggaaaagaa cattycacca gargctgaag agctgtcatt tgaagtgtct 540 tattcagaaa tggttacgga ggctctaaaa agaaataaac ttaagaaatc agagattaag 600 aaagaagact atgttttaac taaatttaat gktcagaaaa ccagatttgg cttaacttga 660 agcaggagat ctgkctgctg aagacatgaa gaaaatccgs catctctcty tgawtgaatt 720 gactgccttt tttgawgcct ttgggaattc rrctgaaaag gaaccaaaac agagaaagta 780 aaaggacsag acaatgggat ttttggagtt ccacttacag tcctcctgga cggtgaccga 840 aagaaagacc ctggagtgaa agttccccct ggtattacaa aaattttttg agaaagttga 900 ggaatcaggt ctggaatctg aaggaatttt tcgactttca ggatgtactg ctaaagtcaa 960 gcaataccgt gaagaacttg atgccaagtt taatgctgat aaatttaaat gggacaaaat 1020 gtgccataga gaagctgcag taatgttgaa agcgtttttc agagaactac ccacctctct 1080 cttccctgtg gaatatatac ctgccttcat cagtctaatg gaaagagggc ctcacgtcra 1140 agtacagttt caagccttac acmtcrkgst catggcgctg cctggatgcc aacagagatg 1200 cagctcaggc cctcatgaca ttcttcaata aagtgattgc caatgaatca aaaaaccgaa 1260 tgagtctgtg gaacatttct acagtgatgg caccgaacct tttsttcagt agaagcaaac 1320 actctgatta tgaagaatta ctgttagcaa acaytgcggc ccacatcatc cgcctaatgc 1380 ttaagtacca gaagattttg tggaaggttc cgtcttttwt taatcactca agtaagaaga 1440 atgaatgaag ccacgatgct attgaagaag cagctcccaa gtgtcaggaa gctgctcagg 1500 aggaagaccc tcgagcggga gactgcaagc cccaagactt caaaggtact gcaaaaatca 1560 ccctcggcaa gacgaatgtc tgacgtgccg gaaggagtca tacgggtcca tgctccactt 1620 ctctccaagg tgtccatggc cattcaactc aacaatcaaa ccaaagccaa agacatattg 1680 gcaaaatttc aatatgaaaa cagtcatggt tcatcagaat gtattaagat tcagaaccaa 1740 aggttatatg aaattggagg aaatatagga gagcattgct tggatccaga tgcttatata 1800 ttggatgtat atcgtataaa tcctcaagca gaatgggtga ttaaacccca accaagttct 1860 taaaatatcc tcgagagagc tgctatcatg tattatatgc caaaaagatc ctacattttg 1920 gtagggaaaa amaacactgt gtctgac 1947 53 734 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (678) n equals a,t,g, or c 53 ggcacagcat gcccttgact ggcacaaacc gtgacagaca tgcccttgac tggcacaaac 60 catgacagac aaggccacct cctcagaagc ggaacaacct attatctttt ggcaatggga 120 gctaacttca ctgttttctt acaatacctg gtttttccta tctttggttt ccttttgatt 180 atctctcatc catctcagcc actattctcc tcccctccct tgtgtctaca acaccccatt 240 ttaccaagtc tcccatttaa cctccccatc cttttctttc ccttaaagtc tcatatgata 300 ctgcagtcct catttgtctt cccaaaaaaa aaaaagaatt tttttttttt taaggaatcc 360 ttccttgact cctaaagact cctaaggatg ctgaggcctc ctcagcatga tttccatata 420 cttactttct ctgttggact gcagacaact tgaaagcagg aactttggca gtgtttcccc 480 agcaccagca tcatgcctgg tccatagtag ctaccaataa aaaagtaagc atcatgaacc 540 caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaac tcgagagtac ttctagagcg gccgcgggcc atcgatttcc 600 acccgggtgg ggtaccaggt aagtgtaccc aattcgccct atagtgagtc gtattacaat 660 tcatgggcgt cggtttanaa ngtcgtgact gggnaaacct gggggttanc caacttaaac 720 gccttggagg anat 734 54 1182 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1119) n equals a,t,g, or c 54 tcaaaacaag ataaagttaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaacagtga cccttttgca taagccagaa 60 gagcagtgcc ttgcttcctg tgaaaaatgc ttggcagtta gcctgtgtaa ttatttagca 120 atcatgttaa tagatgttta agaataatgg aactggagct gtactgagcc aaggatggaa 180 atgaagacat gtgagactat tttttcttca tccaccgata ctcttcagtt acaaggattt 240 aatttaaaag ggttttaatt aaatggaatc cagaagcttt ggacgctcca gtttttcttc 300 ttagagacaa accctagctc agtttcctgg agcttgactc agaatgcagc atggtactcc 360 ggactgacag tgtgccagct ttattcactt atctctctac cttttggctt gcatttattt 420 cagggctggc tgacattttg accttatgta caaagatggc cgatacgatt atttttcatc 480 atatattaca gaaaatacta ctcttgaaaa atactctgag aaatatgttc tatggtcaga 540 taagtttggg aaacagtgaa ttattgttcc tcctttgcag aatcacaatg cactgttagc 600 taattaaaga ctctcagatg tcccactgga aagaatcatg tttagctttg tttaacctag 660 catttcccaa acttattaga gcataaaact ttgtttttgt ttttttttta ataagatagg 720 tagctatttc cttagaacac agtttgggaa actttttgtt catttgtttt aataagatac 780 cttaggtagc tatttcctta gaacacgagc cgggtgcagt ggctcacgcc tgtaatccca 840 gcactttggg aggcccaggc gggcggatca cctgaggtca ggagatcgag atcatccggc 900 ccaacatggt gaaaccccgt ctctactaaa aagacaaaaa ttagccagcc atggtggcag 960 gcacctgtag tcctagctac tgtggaggct gaggcaggag aatcacttga acccgggatg 1020 gggaggttgc agtgagctga gatggcgcca ctgtactcca gcctgggcga cgagcaaaaa 1080 ctccttcaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaactcga gagtacttnt agagcggncg ngggcccatc 1140 gattttncac ccgggtgggg taccaggtaa gtggacccaa tt 1182 55 1866 DNA Homo sapiens 55 ggcacgagac aacatttatt accaatccgt gaactctgga catccccaaa gagcatttct 60 aggaaattgg cttcctcttt cccttgggac agttggacat cttagctgct ccccagcccc 120 tgcaatgtcc atgttccagg agccttgata ggttaagatg aggcccaatg tcctgcaggt 180 ggcatttccc atcagtaccc atcggtgtgt ccgccctagt tgttggctcc tgttcattct 240 gtttagactg ctacccatta tgatcagcca accaggctgt aacagttgtt aaatattttg 300 aatgtcaccc ctggcatttg ccaaagtttt cttatggagt accggattca caagattgtc 360 ataaaacaaa gaaaaataag cttgcaaacg gatgaatcat ctaggctctg agaagtcctg 420 caagaaagat tttgtttacc tgtgtttaac tcaatatatg ccaaaagtat tgaatcacat 480 atgaaaagtc ctccctaccc ttctcccttt ttcagtttca agaaatactg tacctactac 540 catgctgtgg aactagtgtc tgggaaacat catcttcgaa aggaaatgga cttctactaa 600 ccacattgtt ctgtgtctga aagttccaat cttcctatag acaaagatgc tgatgaagat 660 ggctttaaaa ggaacatttg gaaagtgccc atatttggta aacagatgga tttatattga 720 aactctggtt tctccacttg gccttccaca aattatttaa atggtcatat gctcagtttc 780 ttcatctgga agacaggttt agcgttacct cctttgcagg attgctgtga ggattctaga 840 ggtaaaagat gtaaaatgtt ttatcacagt gcctggcaga tggcaaacac tcaagaagag 900 ttagctgtta gcatccagta ttacaggaac cctgaggacc atacaaggtg accttaaggc 960 tacctgttct catggacatc acagtctggt tagacagaca acatagacct gtggaactat 1020 agccaccatc gaagaaaaga ctaaactgag gctggaggaa aacaatggca ttggaatggt 1080 tggaagtcgc ttcataaaat tggtgtgatt ggttgagccc tgacacaaag acatttactt 1140 ccttctatcc ttttaaaaat aatggcctcc tgttgaatgg tagttgccaa gaactagggg 1200 gaagtacagt agaaagttat tgtttaatgg ctacggaatt ttagtttggg aagatgaaaa 1260 aaacttctgg agatggatga tggtattgat tacataacat tgtgaatgca tgtaatgcca 1320 ctcaattgta ttcttaaaaa tggttaaaat gatcaatttt ctgaagtgtg ctataccaca 1380 gtttaaaaaa attaaataat aattaccttg ttatcaaaag gggctaatta gctcactccc 1440 ttcactccat acaaatttat atcattggtt taagactaca tctcccagaa catgctggtc 1500 ccttttcagc ttaggtgttc catttcttct tccttctagg gtttctcttc tttaccagcc 1560 aagcctccag atggtatttc agtcactcag ccaaacacct tcattgcagt cttttccccc 1620 ttctccccca gttcacttaa aaataaattg tcttttttcg taactccaga cagaacatga 1680 agcactctct ctctctctct tttacgctgc cactgaattc taagtacaca attatgcagg 1740 gaatgtcttt agattcacca gcttgagaac ttttaaacat taagctctga atcagataac 1800 agctttcatc tcaagaacag ctttgcactg tacctaagta aaagcttaac ttatatataa 1860 aaaaaa 1866 56 1028 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1022) n equals a,t,g, or c 56 gggaaccaaa gctggagctc caccgcggtg gcggccgctc tagaactagt ggatcccccg 60 ggctgcagga attcggcacg aggtggactg gattagctgc ggaggccctg gaagctgcct 120 gtccttctcc ctgtgcttaa ccagaggtgc ccatgggttg gacaatgagg ctggtcacag 180 cagcactgtt actgggtctc atgatggtgg tcactggaga cgaggatgag aacagcccgt 240 gtgcccatga ggccctcttg gacgaggaca ccctcttttg ccagggcctt gaagttttct 300 acccagagtt ggggaacatt ggctgcaagg ttgttcctga ttgtaacaac tacagacaga 360 agatcacctc ctggatggag ccgatagtca agttcccggg ggccgtggac ggcgcaacct 420 atatcctggt gatggtggat ccagatgccc ctagcagagc agaacccaga cagagattct 480 ggagacattg gctggtaaca gatatcaagg gcgccgacct gaagraaggg aagattcagg 540 gccaggagtt atcagcctac caggctccct ccccaccggc acacagtggc ttccatcgct 600 accagttctt tgtctatctt caggaaggaa aagtcatctc tctccttccc aaggaaaaca 660 aaactcgagg ctcttggaaa atggacagat ttctgaaccg tttccacctg ggcgaacctg 720 aagcaagcac ccagttcatg acccagaact accaggactc accaaccctc caggctccca 780 gagaaagggc cagcgagccc aagcacaaaa accaggcgga gatagctgcc tgctagatag 840 ccggctttgc catccgggca tgtggccaca ctgcycacca ccgacgatgt gggtatggaa 900 ccccctctgg atacagaacc ccttcttttc caaataaaaa aaaaatcatc caggaaaaaa 960 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1020 anaaannn 1028 57 1854 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (57) n equals a,t,g, or c 57 gctgcggact gcagccccac tcccgcccct cccccatcgt gctgcatgat ctccacncac 60 gcacgtccag ggacagactg gaatgtatgt catttggggt cttgggggag ggctcccacg 120 aggccatcct cctcttcttg gmcctccttg gcctgaccca ttctgtgggg aaaccgggtg 180 cccatggagc ctcagaaatg ccacccggct ggttggcatg gcctggggca ggaggcagag 240 gcaggagacc aagatggcag gtggaggcca ggcttaccac aacggaagag acctcccgct 300 ggggccgggc aggcctggct cagctgccac aggcatatgg tggagagggg ggtaccctgc 360 ccaccttggg gtggtggcac cagagctctt gtctattcag acgctggtat gggggctcgg 420 acccctcact ggggacaggg ccagtgttgg agaattctga ttcctttttt gttgtctttt 480 acttttgttt ttaacctggg ggttcgggga gaggccctgc ttgggaacat ctcacgagct 540 ttcctacatc ttccgtggtt cccagcacag cccaagatta tttggcagcc aagtggatgg 600 aactaacttt cctggactgt gtttcgcatt cggcgttatc tggaaagtgg actgaacgga 660 atcaagctct gagcagaggc ctgaagcgga agcaccacat cgtccctgcc catctcactc 720 tctcccttga tgatgcccct agagctgagg ctggagaaga caccagggct gactttgacy 780 gagggccatg gacgcgacag gcctgtggcc ctgcgcatgc tgaaataact ggaacccagc 840 ctctcctcct acaccggcct acccatctgg gcccaagagc tgcactcaca ctcctacaac 900 gaaggacaaa ctgtccaggt cggagggatc acgagacaca gaacctggag gggtgtgcac 960 gctggcargt ggcctctgcg gcaattgcct caccctgagg acatcagcag tcagcctgct 1020 cagagcgggg gtgctggagc gcgtgcagac acagctcttc cggagcagcc ttcaccttct 1080 ctctgggatc agtgtccggc tggccgacgt ggcatttgct gaccgaatgc tcatagaggt 1140 tgacccccac agggtcacgc aggactcgga cactgccctg gaaacatgga tggacaaggg 1200 cttttggcca caggtgtggg tgtcctgttg gaggagggct tgtttggaga agggaggctg 1260 gctgggggag aaacccggat cccgctgcat ctccgcgcct gtgggtgcat gtcgcgtgct 1320 catctgttgc acacagctca ctcgtatgtc ctgcactggt acatgcatct gtaatacagt 1380 ttctacgtct atttaaggct aggagccgaa tgtgccccat tgtcagtggg tccacgtttc 1440 tccccggctc ctctgggcta aggcagtgtg gcccgaggct taaaaagtta ctcggtactg 1500 tttttaagaa cacttttata gagttagtgg aaggcaagtt aagagccaat cactgatccc 1560 caagtgtttc ttgagcatct ggtctggggg gaccactttg atcggaccca cccttggaaa 1620 gctcaggggt aggcccaggt gggatgctca ccctgtcact gagggttttg gttggcatcg 1680 ttgtttttga atgtagcaca agcgatgagc aaactctata agagtgtttt aaaaattaac 1740 ttcccaggaa gtgagttaaa aacaataaaa gccctttctt gagttaaaaa gaaaaaaaaa 1800 aaaaaaaaaa aacccggggg ggggcccggt accaaattcg cccnaaaggg ggnc 1854 58 1349 DNA Homo sapiens 58 ctccaacatg gagcctcttg cagcttaccc gctaaaatgt tccgggccca gagcaaaggt 60 atttgcagtt ttgctgtcta tagttctatg cacagtaacg ctatttcttc tacaactaaa 120 attcctcaaa cctaaaatca acagctttta tgcctttgaa gtgaaggatg caaaaggaag 180 aactgtttct ctggaaaagt ataaaggcaa agtttcacta gttgtaaacg tggccagtga 240 ctgccaactc acagacagaa attacttagg gctgaaggaa ctgcacaaag agtttggacc 300 atcccacttc agcgtgttgg cttttccctg caatcagttt ggagaatcgg agccccgccc 360 aagcaaggaa gtagaatctt ttgcaagaaa aaactacgga gtaactttcc ccatcttcca 420 caagattaag attctaggat ctgaaggaga acctgcattt agatttcttg ttgattcttc 480 aaagaaggaa ccaaggtgga atttttggaa gtatcttgtc aaccctgagg gtcaagttgt 540 gaagttctgg aggccagagg agcccattga agtcatcagg cctgacatag cagctctggt 600 tagacaagtg atcataaaaa agaaagagga tctatgagaa tgccattgcg tttctaatag 660 aacagagaaa tgtctccatg agggtttggt ctcattttaa acattttttt tttggagaca 720 gtgtctcact ctgtcaccca ggctggagtg cagtagtgcg ttctcagctc attgcaacct 780 ctgccttttt aaacatgcta ttaaatgtgg caatgaagga ttttttttta atgttatctt 840 gctattaagt ggtaatgaat gttcccagga tgaggatgtt acccaaagca aaaatcaaga 900 gtagccaaag aatcaacatg aaatatatta actacttcct ctgaccatac taaagaattc 960 agaatacaca gtgaccaatg tgcctcaata tcttattgtt caacttgaca ttttctagga 1020 ctgtacttga tgaaaatgcc aacacactag accactcttt ggattcaaga gcactgtgta 1080 tgactgaaat ttctggaata actgtaaatg gttatgttaa tggaataaaa cacaaatgtt 1140 gaaaaatgta aaatatatat acatagattc aaatccttat atatgtatgc ttgttttgtg 1200 tacaggattt tgttttttct ttttaagtac aggttcctag tgttttacta taactgtcac 1260 tatgtatgta actgacatat ataaatagtc atttataaat gaccgtatta taacatttaa 1320 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 1349 59 1072 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (374) n equals a,t,g, or c 59 ggcasagccc ttatctcctt cgcagtgcag ctccttcaac ctcgccatgg cctctgccgg 60 aatgcagatc ctgggagtcg tcctgacact gctgggctgg gtgaatggcc tggtctcctg 120 tgccctgccc atgtggaagg tgacygcttt catcggcaac agcatcgtgg tggcccaggt 180 ggtgtgggag ggcctgtgga tgtcctgcgt ggtgcagagc accggccaga tgcagtgcaa 240 ggtgtacgac tcactgctgg cgctgccaca ggacctgcag gctgcacgtg ccctctgtgt 300 catcgccctc cttgtggccc tgttcggctt gctggtctac cttgctgggg ccaagtgtac 360 cacctktttt tatnataagg attccaaggc ccgcctggtg ctcacctctg ggattgtctt 420 tgtcatctca ggggtcctga cgctaatccc cgtgtgctgg acggcgcatg ccatcatccg 480 ggacttctat aaccccctgg tggctgargc ccaaaagcgg gagctggggg cctccctcta 540 cttgggctgg gcggcctcag gccttttgtt gctgggtggg gggttgctgt gctgcacttg 600 cccctcgggg gggtcccagg gccccagcca ttacatggcc cgctactcaa catctgcccc 660 tgccatctct cgggggccct ctgagtaccc taccaagaat tacgtctgac gtggagggga 720 atgggggctc cgctggcgct agagccatcc agaagtggca gtgcccaaca gctttgggat 780 gggttcgtac cttttgtttc tgcctcctgc tatttttctt ttgactgagg atatttaaaa 840 ttcatttgaa aactgagcca aggtgttgac tcagactctc acttaggctc tgctgtttct 900 cacccttgga tgatggagcc aaagagggga tgctttgaga ttctggatct tgacatgccc 960 atcttagaag ccagtcaagc tatggaacta atgcggaggc tgcttgctgt gctggctttg 1020 caacaagaca gactgtcccc aagagttcct gctgctgctg ggggctgggc tt 1072 60 2508 DNA Homo sapiens 60 tcacagctga ggaagacctc agacatggag tccaggatgt ggcctgcgct gctgctgtcc 60 cacctcctcc ctctctggcc actgctgttg ctgcccctcc caccgcctgc tcagggctct 120 tcatcctccc ctcgaacccc accaggccca gcccgccccc cgtgtgccag gggaggcccc 180 tcggccccac gtcatgtgtg cgtgtgggag cgagcacctc caccaagccg atctcctcgg 240 gtcccaagat cacgtcggca agtcctgcct ggcactgcac ccccagccac cccatcaggc 300 tttgaggagg ggccgccctc atcccaatac ccctgggcta tcgtgtgggg tcccaccgtg 360 tctcgagagg atggagggga ccccaactct gccaatcccg gatttctgga ctatggtttt 420 gcagcccctc atgggctcgc aaccccacac cccaactcag actccatgcg aggtgatgga 480 gatgggctta tccttggaga ggcacctgcc accctgcggt cattcctgtt cgggggccgt 540 ggggaaggtg tggaccccca gctctatgtc acaattacca tctccatcat cattgttctc 600 gtggccactg gcatcatctt caagttctgc tgggaccgca gccagaagcg acgcagaccc 660 tcagggcagc aaggtgccct gaggcaggag gagagccagc agccactgac agacctgtcc 720 ccggctggag tcactgtgct gggggccttc ggggactcac ctacccccac ccctgaccat 780 gatgagcccc gagggggacc ccggcctggg atgccccacc ccaagggggc tccagccttc 840 cagttgaacc ggtgagggca ggggcaatgg gatgggaggg caaagaggga aggcaactta 900 ggtcttcaga gctggggtgg gggtgccctc tggatgggta gcgaggaggc aggcgtggcc 960 tcccacagcc cctgggcctc ccaagggggc tggaccagct cctctctggg aggcaccctt 1020 acttctccca gtctctcagg atctgtgccc tattctctgc tgcccataac tccaactctg 1080 ccctatttgg tcttttctca tgccaccttg tctaagacaa ctctgccctc ttaaccttga 1140 ttccccctct ttgtcttgaa cttccccttc tattctggcc taccccttgg ttcctgactg 1200 tgccctttcc ctcttcctct caggattccc ctggtgaatc tgtgatgccc ccaatgttgg 1260 ggtgcagcca agcaggaggc caaggggccg gcacagcccc catcccactg agggtggggc 1320 agctgtgggg agctggggcc acaggggctc ctggctcctg ccccttgcac accacccgga 1380 acactcccca gccccacggg caatcctatc tgctcgccct cctgcaggtg ggggcctcac 1440 atatctgtga cttcgggtcc ctgtccccac ccttgtgcac tcacatgaaa gccttgcaca 1500 ctcacctcca ccttcacagg ccatttgcac acgctcctgc accctctccc cgtccatacc 1560 gctccgctca gctgactctc atgttctctc gtctcacatt tgcactctct ccttcccaca 1620 ttctgtgctc agctcactca gtggtcagcg tttcctgcac actttacctc tcatgtgcgt 1680 ttcccggcct gatgttgtgg tggtgtgcgg cgtgctcact ctctccctca tgaacaccca 1740 cccacctcgt ttccgcagcc cctgcgtgct gctccagagg tgggtgggag gtgagctggg 1800 ggctccttgg gccctcatcg gtcatggtct cgtcccattc cacaccattt gtttctctgt 1860 ctccccatcc tactccaagg atgccggcat caccctgagg gctccccctt gggaatgggg 1920 tagtgaggcc ccagacttca cccccagccc actgctaaaa tctgttttct gacagatggg 1980 ttttggggag tcgcctgctg cactacatga gaaagggact cccatttgcc cttccctttc 2040 tcctacagtc ccttttgtct tgtctgtcct ggctgtctgt gtgtgtgcca ttctctggac 2100 ttcagagccc cctgagccag tcctcccttc ccagcctccc tttgggcctc cctaactcca 2160 cctaggctgc cagggaccgg agtcagctgg ttcaaggcca tcgggagctc tgcctccaag 2220 tctacccttc ccttcccgga ctccctcctg tcccctcctt tcctccctcc ttccttccac 2280 tctccttcct tttgcttccc tgccctttcc ccctcctcag gttcttccct ccttctcact 2340 ggtttttcca ccttcctcct tcccttcttc cctggctcct aggctgtgat atatattttt 2400 gtattatctc tttcttcttc ttgtggtgat catcttgaat tactgtggga tgtaagtttc 2460 aaaattttca aataaagcct ttgcaagata aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 2508 61 952 DNA Homo sapiens 61 gaattcggca cgaggccctg gaagctgcct gtccttctcc ctgtgcttaa ccagaggtgc 60 ccatgggttg gacaatgagg ctggtcacag cagcactgtt actgggtctc atgatggtgg 120 tcactggaga cgaggatgag aacagcccgt gtgcccatga ggccctcttg gacgaggaca 180 ccctcttttg ccagggcctt gaagttttct acccagagtt ggggaacatt ggctgcaagg 240 ttgttcctga ttgtaacaac tacagacaga agatcacctc ctggatggaa gccgatagtc 300 aagttcccgg gggccgtgga cggcgcaacc tataatcctg gtgatggtgg atccagatgc 360 ccctagcaga gcagaaccca gacagagatt ctggagacat tggctggtaa cagatatcaa 420 gggcgccgac ctgaagaaag ggaagattca gggccaggag ttatcagcct accaggctcc 480 ctccccaccg gcacacagtg gcttccatcg ctaccagttc tttgtctatc ttcaggaagg 540 aaaagtcatc tctctccttc ccaaggaaaa caaaactcga ggctcttgga aaatggacag 600 atttctgaac cgtttccacc tgggcgaacc tgaagcaagc acccagttca tgacccagaa 660 ctaccaggac tcaccaaccc tccaggctcc cagagaaagg gccagcgagc ccaagcacaa 720 aaaccaggcg gagatagctg cctgctagat agccggcttt gccatccggg catgtggcca 780 cactgcccac caccgacgat gtgggtatgg aaccccctct ggatacagaa ccccttcttt 840 tccaaataaa aaaaaaatca tccacccaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 900 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 952 62 206 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (143) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 62 Met Ala Ser His Gly Leu Cys Pro Cys Leu Leu Met Gly Thr Gly Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Trp Thr Leu Leu Pro Asp Leu Glu Val Met Ala Gly Lys Gly 20 25 30 Arg Met Pro Phe Ala Gly Ile Ser Val Thr Ser Gly Phe Leu Arg Ser 35 40 45 Leu Lys Arg Ala Pro Leu Pro His Thr Gly Ser Pro Asp Pro Arg Pro 50 55 60 Ser Gly Ile Trp Ser Gly Val Arg Thr Thr Ser Glu Glu Ala Gly Ala 65 70 75 80 Thr Ser Thr Gln Ile Ser Thr Ala Ala Pro Arg Phe His Ser Arg Arg 85 90 95 Lys Gly Pro Lys Arg Asn Leu Ala Pro Gln Leu Arg Val Leu Val His 100 105 110 Arg Thr Val Pro Pro Gly Gln Leu Val Tyr Ala Pro Gln Thr Val Asp 115 120 125 Ser Leu Arg Gly Thr Leu Leu Arg Pro Pro Ala Trp Leu Leu Xaa Gln 130 135 140 Val Pro Cys Phe Tyr Ser Gly Gln Pro Leu Leu Val Ser Ala Ser Val 145 150 155 160 Leu Cys Arg Asp Leu Met Gln Phe Leu Phe Leu Leu Lys Ser Tyr Leu 165 170 175 Leu Pro Phe Leu Glu Val Cys Arg Ile Gly Trp Glu Gln Ile Gln Arg 180 185 190 Ile Leu Gly Ala Gly Leu Trp Arg Gln Lys Glu Gly Asn Gly 195 200 205 63 108 PRT Homo sapiens 63 Met Thr Trp Trp Tyr Arg Trp Leu Cys Arg Leu Ser Gly Val Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Ala Val Ser Cys Ala Ile Ser Gly Leu Phe Asn Cys Ile Thr Ile His 20 25 30 Pro Leu Asn Ile Ala Ala Gly Val Trp Met Met Met Ala Val Val Pro 35 40 45 Ile Val Ile Ser Leu Thr Leu Thr Thr Leu Leu Gly Asn Ala Ile Ala 50 55 60 Phe Ala Thr Gly Val Leu Tyr Gly Leu Ser Ala Leu Gly Lys Lys Gly 65 70 75 80 Asp Ala Ile Ser Tyr Ala Arg Ile Gln Gln Gln Arg Gln Gln Ala Asp 85 90 95 Glu Glu Lys Leu Ala Glu Thr Leu Glu Gly Glu Leu 100 105 64 286 PRT Homo sapiens 64 Met Ala Arg Phe Gly Leu Pro Ala Leu Leu Cys Thr Leu Ala Val Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Ala Leu Leu Ala Ala Glu Leu Lys Ser Lys Ser Cys Ser Glu 20 25 30 Val Arg Arg Leu Tyr Val Ser Lys Gly Phe Asn Lys Asn Asp Ala Pro 35 40 45 Leu His Glu Ile Asn Gly Asp His Leu Lys Ile Cys Pro Gln Gly Ser 50 55 60 Thr Cys Cys Ser Gln Glu Met Glu Glu Lys Tyr Ser Leu Gln Ser Lys 65 70 75 80 Asp Asp Phe Lys Ser Val Val Ser Glu Gln Cys Asn His Leu Gln Ala 85 90 95 Val Phe Ala Ser Arg Tyr Lys Lys Ser Asp Glu Phe Phe Lys Glu Leu 100 105 110 Leu Glu Asn Ala Glu Lys Ser Leu Asn Asp Met Phe Val Lys Thr Tyr 115 120 125 Gly His Leu Tyr Met Gln Asn Phe Glu Leu Phe Lys Asp Leu Phe Val 130 135 140 Glu Leu Lys Arg Tyr Tyr Val Val Gly Asn Val Asn Leu Glu Glu Met 145 150 155 160 Leu Asn Asp Phe Trp Ala Arg Leu Leu Glu Arg Met Phe Arg Leu Val 165 170 175 Asn Ser Gln Tyr His Phe Thr Asp Glu Tyr Leu Glu Cys Val Ser Lys 180 185 190 Tyr Thr Glu Gln Leu Lys Pro Phe Gly Asp Val Pro Arg Lys Leu Lys 195 200 205 Leu Gln Val Thr Arg Ala Phe Val Ala Ala Arg Thr Phe Ala Gln Gly 210 215 220 Leu Ala Val Ala Gly Asp Val Arg Glu Gln Gly Leu Arg Gly Lys Pro 225 230 235 240 His Ser Pro Val Tyr Pro Cys Pro Val Glu Asp Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro 245 250 255 Leu Pro Gly Ser Arg Asp Cys Glu Ala Met Leu Gln Leu Leu Leu Lys 260 265 270 His His Glu Arg Leu Phe Gly Gln Pro Arg Gly Ser Arg Phe 275 280 285 65 85 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (44) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 65 Met Leu Leu Gln Leu Leu His Val Phe Trp Ser Cys Leu Ile Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 Met Leu Tyr Ser Phe Met Lys Lys Gly Gln Met Glu Lys Asp Ile Arg 20 25 30 Ser Asp Val Glu Glu Ser Asp Ser Ser Glu Glu Xaa Ala Ala Ala Gln 35 40 45 Glu Pro Leu Gln Leu Lys Asn Gly Xaa Ala Gly Gly Pro Arg Pro Ala 50 55 60 Pro Thr Asp Gly Pro Arg Ser Arg Val Ala Gly Arg Leu Thr Asn Arg 65 70 75 80 His Thr Thr Ala Thr 85 66 302 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (237) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 66 Met Lys Ala Pro Gly Arg Leu Val Leu Ile Ile Leu Cys Ser Val Val 1 5 10 15 Phe Ser Ala Val Tyr Ile Leu Leu Cys Cys Trp Ala Gly Leu Pro Leu 20 25 30 Cys Leu Ala Thr Cys Leu Asp His His Phe Pro Thr Gly Ser Arg Pro 35 40 45 Thr Val Pro Gly Pro Leu His Phe Ser Gly Tyr Ser Ser Val Pro Asp 50 55 60 Gly Lys Pro Leu Val Arg Glu Pro Cys Arg Ser Cys Ala Val Val Ser 65 70 75 80 Ser Ser Gly Gln Met Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Gly Ala Glu Ile Asp Ser 85 90 95 Ala Glu Cys Val Phe Arg Met Asn Gln Ala Pro Thr Val Gly Phe Glu 100 105 110 Ala Asp Val Gly Gln Arg Ser Thr Leu Arg Val Val Ser His Thr Ser 115 120 125 Val Pro Leu Leu Leu Arg Asn Tyr Ser His Tyr Phe Gln Lys Ala Arg 130 135 140 Asp Thr Leu Tyr Met Val Trp Gly Gln Gly Arg His Met Asp Arg Val 145 150 155 160 Leu Gly Gly Arg Thr Tyr Arg Thr Leu Leu Gln Leu Thr Arg Met Tyr 165 170 175 Pro Gly Leu Gln Val Tyr Thr Phe Thr Glu Arg Met Met Ala Tyr Cys 180 185 190 Asp Gln Ile Phe Gln Asp Glu Thr Gly Lys Asn Arg Arg Gln Ser Gly 195 200 205 Ser Phe Leu Ser Thr Gly Trp Phe Thr Met Ile Leu Ala Leu Glu Leu 210 215 220 Cys Glu Glu Ile Val Val Tyr Gly Met Val Ser Asp Xaa Tyr Cys Arg 225 230 235 240 Glu Lys Ser His Pro Ser Val Pro Tyr His Tyr Phe Glu Lys Gly Arg 245 250 255 Leu Asp Glu Cys Gln Met Tyr Leu Ala His Glu Gln Ala Pro Arg Ser 260 265 270 Ala His Arg Phe Ile Thr Glu Lys Ala Val Phe Ser Arg Trp Ala Lys 275 280 285 Lys Arg Pro Ile Val Phe Ala His Pro Ser Trp Arg Thr Glu 290 295 300 67 149 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (15) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 67 Met Ala Ala Trp Val Phe Pro Leu Leu Ser Val Ile His Thr Xaa Leu 1 5 10 15 Pro Gln Ala Ser Pro Glu Ile Trp Val Thr Gln Ser Glu Gly Gly Asp 20 25 30 Gln Gly Val Ala Cys Glu Xaa Val Gly Gly Val Leu Ser Thr Leu Asp 35 40 45 Arg Ile Glu Leu Cys Phe Leu Ser Asp Arg Ala Ser Ser Gly Cys Xaa 50 55 60 Asp Lys Xaa Pro Gln Thr Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Gly Ala Gly Ile Cys 65 70 75 80 His Glu Gly Val Gly Arg Ala Gly Ser Ser Arg Ala Leu Ser Pro Gly 85 90 95 Pro Ala Xaa Ala Val Phe Pro Ser Phe Pro Cys Ala Phe Pro Gly Pro 100 105 110 Ser Cys Val Cys Leu Cys Pro Arg Leu Ser Trp Xaa Xaa Tyr Arg Ser 115 120 125 Gln Gly Pro Trp Ser Tyr Trp Ile Arg Ala Thr Leu Met Ala Ser Cys 130 135 140 His Cys Ser Tyr Leu 145 68 357 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (44) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 68 Met Cys Phe Ala Thr Ala Ala Phe Phe Phe Phe Phe Thr Leu Leu Met 1 5 10 15 Leu Cys Val Ser Ser Ser Arg Asp Pro Arg Ala Ala Ile Gln Asn Gly 20 25 30 Phe Trp Phe Phe Lys Phe Leu Ile Leu Val Gly Xaa Thr Val Gly Ala 35 40 45 Phe Tyr Ile Pro Asp Gly Ser Phe Thr Asn Ile Trp Phe Tyr Phe Gly 50 55 60 Val Val Gly Ser Phe Leu Phe Ile Leu Ile Gln Leu Val Leu Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Asp Phe Ala His Ser Trp Asn Gln Arg Trp Leu Gly Lys Ala Glu Glu 85 90 95 Cys Asp Ser Arg Ala Trp Tyr Ala Gly Leu Phe Phe Phe Thr Leu Leu 100 105 110 Phe Tyr Leu Leu Ser Ile Ala Ala Val Ala Leu Met Phe Met Tyr Tyr 115 120 125 Thr Glu Pro Ser Gly Cys His Glu Gly Lys Val Phe Ile Ser Leu Asn 130 135 140 Leu Thr Phe Cys Val Cys Val Ser Ile Ala Ala Val Leu Pro Lys Val 145 150 155 160 Gln Asp Ala Gln Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Leu Gln Ala Ser Val Ile Thr 165 170 175 Leu Tyr Thr Met Phe Val Thr Trp Ser Ala Leu Ser Ser Ile Pro Glu 180 185 190 Gln Lys Cys Asn Pro His Leu Pro Thr Gln Leu Gly Asn Glu Thr Val 195 200 205 Val Ala Gly Pro Glu Gly Tyr Glu Thr Gln Trp Trp Asp Ala Pro Ser 210 215 220 Ile Val Gly Leu Ile Ile Phe Leu Leu Cys Thr Leu Phe Ile Ser Leu 225 230 235 240 Arg Ser Ser Asp His Arg Gln Val Asn Ser Leu Met Gln Thr Glu Glu 245 250 255 Cys Pro Pro Met Leu Asp Ala Thr Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Val Ala 260 265 270 Ala Cys Glu Gly Arg Ala Phe Asp Asn Glu Gln Asp Gly Val Thr Tyr 275 280 285 Ser Tyr Ser Phe Phe His Phe Cys Leu Val Leu Ala Ser Leu His Val 290 295 300 Met Met Thr Leu Thr Asn Trp Tyr Lys Pro Gly Glu Thr Arg Lys Met 305 310 315 320 Ile Ser Thr Trp Thr Ala Val Trp Val Lys Ile Cys Ala Ser Trp Ala 325 330 335 Gly Leu Leu Leu Tyr Leu Trp Thr Leu Val Ala Pro Leu Leu Leu Arg 340 345 350 Asn Arg Asp Phe Ser 355 69 111 PRT Homo sapiens 69 Met Gly Pro Ser Ser Cys Leu Leu Leu Ile Leu Ile Pro Leu Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Asn Leu Gly Ser Thr Gln Cys Ser Leu Asp Ser Val Met Asp 20 25 30 Lys Lys Ile Lys Asp Val Leu Asn Ser Leu Glu Tyr Ser Pro Ser Pro 35 40 45 Ile Ser Lys Lys Leu Ser Cys Ala Ser Val Lys Ser Gln Gly Arg Pro 50 55 60 Ser Ser Cys Pro Ala Gly Met Ala Val Thr Gly Cys Ala Cys Gly Tyr 65 70 75 80 Gly Cys Gly Ser Trp Asp Val Gln Leu Glu Thr Thr Cys His Cys Gln 85 90 95 Cys Ser Val Val Asp Trp Thr Thr Ala Arg Cys Cys His Leu Thr 100 105 110 70 183 PRT Homo sapiens 70 Met Ile Cys Ser Gly Phe Phe Gly Trp Trp Trp Trp Trp Cys Phe Leu 1 5 10 15 Met Gly Leu Ser Gly Phe His Gln Thr His Phe Pro Ala Ala Val Trp 20 25 30 Ser Gly Pro Glu Asn Thr Lys Pro Pro Asp Pro Arg Pro Thr Pro Thr 35 40 45 His His Pro Ala Ser Ala Ala Leu Ser Gln Asp Ser His Gly Asn Glu 50 55 60 Gly Ile His Leu Leu Pro Asp Thr His Trp Ala Leu Arg Pro Ser Gln 65 70 75 80 Gly Pro His Asn Gly Pro Gln Arg Arg Gly Pro Thr Thr Cys Trp Ile 85 90 95 Phe Pro Gly Lys Gly Val Arg Gly Trp Arg Gly Arg Ala Val Arg Leu 100 105 110 Phe Pro Ala Pro Ser Pro Ile Cys Thr Leu Val Ala Arg Val Ser Gln 115 120 125 Arg Gly His Pro Cys Pro Arg Thr Leu Ser Pro Ser Ser Ala Pro Cys 130 135 140 Phe Leu Ile Leu Lys Leu Gln Gly Gly Trp Glu Asp Ser Asn Gly Asn 145 150 155 160 Gly Ser Lys Asp Thr Leu Arg Asn Cys Gly Leu Pro Asp Lys Glu Ser 165 170 175 Lys Arg Leu Gly Leu Gln Ala 180 71 253 PRT Homo sapiens 71 Met Ile Val Gly Ser Pro Arg Ala Leu Thr Gln Pro Leu Gly Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Leu Gln Leu Val Ser Thr Cys Val Ala Phe Ser Leu Val Ala 20 25 30 Ser Val Gly Ala Trp Thr Gly Ser Met Gly Asn Trp Ser Met Phe Thr 35 40 45 Trp Cys Phe Cys Phe Ser Val Thr Leu Ile Ile Leu Ile Val Glu Leu 50 55 60 Cys Gly Leu Gln Ala Arg Phe Pro Leu Ser Trp Arg Asn Phe Pro Ile 65 70 75 80 Thr Phe Ala Cys Tyr Ala Ala Leu Phe Cys Leu Ser Ala Ser Ile Ile 85 90 95 Tyr Pro Thr Thr Tyr Val Gln Phe Leu Ser His Gly Arg Ser Arg Asp 100 105 110 His Ala Ile Ala Ala Thr Phe Phe Ser Cys Ile Ala Cys Val Ala Tyr 115 120 125 Ala Thr Glu Val Ala Trp Thr Arg Ala Arg Pro Gly Glu Ile Thr Gly 130 135 140 Tyr Met Ala Thr Val Pro Gly Leu Leu Lys Val Leu Glu Thr Phe Val 145 150 155 160 Ala Cys Ile Ile Phe Ala Phe Ile Ser Asp Pro Asn Leu Tyr Gln His 165 170 175 Gln Pro Ala Leu Glu Trp Cys Val Ala Val Tyr Ala Ile Cys Phe Ile 180 185 190 Leu Ala Ala Ile Ala Ile Leu Leu Asn Leu Gly Glu Cys Thr Asn Val 195 200 205 Leu Pro Ile Pro Phe Pro Ser Phe Leu Ser Gly Leu Ala Leu Leu Ser 210 215 220 Val Leu Leu Tyr Ala Thr Ala Leu Val Leu Trp Pro Leu Tyr Gln Phe 225 230 235 240 Asp Glu Lys Tyr Gly Gly Ser Leu Gly Ala Arg Glu Met 245 250 72 99 PRT Homo sapiens 72 Met Ala Val Trp Gly Asp Thr Glu Leu Ala Ala Gly Val Phe Cys Phe 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Phe Phe Cys Phe Leu Tyr Leu Ser Gly Thr Trp Asn Ala Ser 20 25 30 Lys Thr Glu Leu Phe Thr Pro Leu Glu Arg Glu Leu Lys Pro Gly His 35 40 45 Pro Ser Gly Met Leu Ser Gly Ser His Pro His Gly Ala Gln Gln Ala 50 55 60 Lys Ser Thr Gly Leu Lys Leu Ser Leu Pro Ala Gln Gln Ser Glu Val 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu Gly Cys Ser Ser Leu Val Trp Gly Gly Ala Ser Ala Ile Thr 85 90 95 Glu Ala Leu 73 180 PRT Homo sapiens 73 Met Val Val Leu Phe Arg Trp Val Pro Val Thr Asp Ala Tyr Trp Gln 1 5 10 15 Ile Leu Phe Ser Val Leu Lys Val Thr Arg Asn Leu Lys Glu Leu Asp 20 25 30 Leu Ser Gly Asn Ser Leu Ser His Ser Ala Val Lys Ser Leu Cys Lys 35 40 45 Thr Leu Arg Arg Pro Arg Cys Leu Leu Glu Thr Leu Arg Leu Ala Gly 50 55 60 Cys Gly Leu Thr Ala Glu Asp Cys Lys Asp Leu Ala Phe Gly Leu Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Asn Gln Thr Leu Thr Glu Leu Asp Leu Ser Phe Asn Val Leu Thr 85 90 95 Asp Ala Gly Ala Lys His Leu Cys Gln Arg Leu Arg Gln Pro Ser Cys 100 105 110 Lys Leu Gln Arg Leu Gln Leu Val Ser Cys Gly Leu Thr Ser Asp Cys 115 120 125 Cys Gln Asp Leu Ala Ser Val Leu Ser Ala Ser Pro Ser Leu Lys Glu 130 135 140 Leu Asp Leu Gln Gln Asn Asn Leu Asp Asp Val Gly Val Arg Leu Leu 145 150 155 160 Cys Glu Gly Leu Ser Ile Leu Pro Ala Asn Ser Tyr Ala Trp Gly Trp 165 170 175 Thr Arg Gln Leu 180 74 62 PRT Homo sapiens 74 Met Leu Leu Arg His Pro Leu Pro Val Cys Phe Cys Phe Ser Phe Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro Phe Pro Val Ser Ala Leu Ser Leu Leu Pro Ile Gly Leu Val Arg 20 25 30 Glu Gly Ala Ala Ser Pro Thr Gln Gln Leu Arg Leu Gln Arg Glu Ser 35 40 45 Leu Ser Ser Ile Thr His Arg Val Asn Ile Lys Glu Gly His 50 55 60 75 73 PRT Homo sapiens 75 Met Ala Thr Pro Arg Gly Leu Gly Ala Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Pro Thr Ser Gly Gln Glu Lys Pro Thr Glu Gly Pro Arg Asn Thr Cys 20 25 30 Leu Gly Ser Asn Asn Met Tyr Asp Ile Phe Asn Leu Asn Asp Lys Ala 35 40 45 Leu Cys Phe Thr Lys Cys Arg Gln Ser Gly Ser Asp Ser Cys Asn Val 50 55 60 Glu Asn Leu Gln Arg Phe Arg Gly Arg 65 70 76 130 PRT Homo sapiens 76 Met Ala Phe Phe Phe Thr Phe Met Ala Gln Leu Val Ile Ser Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 Gln Ala Val Gly Ile Pro Gly Trp Gly Val Cys Gly Trp Ile Ala Thr 20 25 30 Ile Ser Phe Phe Gly Thr Asn Ile Gly Ser Ala Val Val Met Leu Ile 35 40 45 Pro Thr Val Met Phe Thr Val Met Ala Val Phe Ser Phe Ile Ala Leu 50 55 60 Ser Met Val His Lys Phe Tyr Arg Gly Ser Gly Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys 65 70 75 80 Ala Gln Glu Glu Trp Thr Thr Gly Ala Trp Lys Asn Pro His Val Gln 85 90 95 Gln Ala Ala Gln Asn Ala Ala Met Gly Ala Ala Gln Gly Ala Met Asn 100 105 110 Gln Pro Gln Thr Gln Tyr Ser Ala Thr Pro Asn Tyr Thr Tyr Ser Asn 115 120 125 Glu Met 130 77 107 PRT Homo sapiens 77 Met Glu Pro Leu Ala Ala Tyr Pro Leu Lys Cys Ser Gly Pro Arg Ala 1 5 10 15 Lys Val Phe Ala Val Leu Leu Ser Ile Val Leu Cys Thr Val Thr Leu 20 25 30 Phe Leu Leu Gln Leu Lys Phe Leu Lys Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Phe Tyr 35 40 45 Ala Phe Glu Val Lys Asp Ala Lys Gly Arg Thr Val Ser Leu Glu Lys 50 55 60 Tyr Lys Gly Lys Val Ser Leu Val Val Asn Val Ala Ser Asp Cys Gln 65 70 75 80 Leu Thr Asp Arg Asn Tyr Leu Gly Leu Lys Glu Leu His Lys Glu Phe 85 90 95 Gly Pro Ser His Phe Ser Val Leu Ala Phe Pro 100 105 78 125 PRT Homo sapiens 78 Met Gln Ile Leu Gly Val Val Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Trp Val Asn Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Ser Cys Ala Leu Pro Met Trp Lys Val Thr Ala Phe Ile Gly 20 25 30 Asn Ser Ile Val Val Ala Gln Val Val Trp Glu Gly Leu Trp Met Ser 35 40 45 Cys Val Val Gln Ser Thr Gly Gln Met Gln Cys Lys Val Tyr Asp Ser 50 55 60 Leu Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Asp Leu Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Leu Cys Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Ala Leu Leu Val Ala Leu Phe Gly Leu Leu Val Tyr Leu Ala Gly 85 90 95 Ala Lys Cys Thr Thr Cys Phe Tyr Ile Arg Ile Pro Arg Pro Ala Trp 100 105 110 Cys Ser Pro Leu Gly Leu Ser Leu Ser Ser Gln Gly Ser 115 120 125 79 218 PRT Homo sapiens 79 Met Glu Ser Arg Met Trp Pro Ala Leu Leu Leu Ser His Leu Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Leu Trp Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Ala Gln Gly Ser 20 25 30 Ser Ser Pro Pro Arg Thr Pro Pro Pro Pro Ala Arg Pro Pro Cys Ala 35 40 45 Arg Gly Gly Pro Ser Ala Pro Arg His Val Cys Val Trp Glu Arg Ala 50 55 60 Pro Pro Pro Ser Arg Ser Pro Arg Val Pro Arg Ser Arg Arg Gln Val 65 70 75 80 Leu Pro Gly Thr Ala Pro Pro Ala Thr Pro Ser Gly Phe Glu Glu Gly 85 90 95 Pro Pro Ser Ser Gln Tyr Pro Trp Ala Ile Val Trp Gly Pro Thr Val 100 105 110 Ser Arg Glu Asp Gly Gly Asp Pro Asn Ser Ala Asn Pro Gly Phe Leu 115 120 125 Asp Tyr Gly Phe Ala Ala Pro His Gly Leu Ala Thr Pro His Pro Asn 130 135 140 Ser Asp Ser Met Arg Gly Asp Gly Met Gly Leu Ser Leu Glu Arg His 145 150 155 160 Leu Pro Pro Cys Gly His Ser Cys Ser Gly Ala Val Gly Lys Val Trp 165 170 175 Thr Pro Ser Ser Met Ser Gln Leu Pro Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Phe Ser 180 185 190 Trp Pro Leu Ala Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ala Gly Thr Ala Ala Arg Ser 195 200 205 Asp Ala Asp Pro Gln Gly Ser Lys Val Pro 210 215 80 232 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (36) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 80 Met Ala Ile Ser Ile Pro Asn Arg Ile Phe Pro Ile Thr Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Ala Leu Val Tyr Ser Leu Val Leu Leu Leu Pro Phe Tyr Asn 20 25 30 Cys Thr Glu Xaa Thr Lys Tyr Arg Arg Phe Pro Asp Trp Leu Asp His 35 40 45 Trp Met Leu Cys Arg Lys Gln Leu Gly Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Phe Ala 50 55 60 Phe Leu Xaa Val Leu Xaa Xaa Leu Val Ile Pro Ile Arg Tyr Tyr Val 65 70 75 80 Arg Xaa Arg Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Val Thr Gln Xaa Ile Leu Lys Lys 85 90 95 Glu Asn Pro Phe Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Trp Leu Ser Asp Ser Tyr Val 100 105 110 Ala Leu Gly Ile Leu Gly Phe Phe Leu Phe Val Leu Leu Gly Ile Thr 115 120 125 Ser Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Asn Ala Val Asn Trp Arg Glu Phe Arg Phe 130 135 140 Val Gln Ser Lys Leu Gly Tyr Leu Thr Leu Ile Leu Cys Thr Ala His 145 150 155 160 Thr Leu Val Tyr Gly Gly Lys Arg Phe Leu Ser Pro Ser Asn Leu Arg 165 170 175 Trp Tyr Leu Pro Ala Ala Tyr Val Leu Gly Leu Ile Ile Pro Cys Thr 180 185 190 Val Leu Val Ile Lys Phe Val Leu Ile Met Pro Cys Val Asp Asn Thr 195 200 205 Leu Thr Arg Ile Arg Arg Ala Gly Lys Gly Thr Gln Asn Thr Arg Lys 210 215 220 Ser Ile Glu Trp Lys Ile Asn Ile 225 230 81 121 PRT Homo sapiens 81 Met Val Phe Phe Thr Cys Leu Trp Phe Leu Asn Glu His Ile Leu Val 1 5 10 15 Cys Asn Cys Ser Asn Val Ser Leu Cys Tyr Ser Leu Pro Leu Lys Glu 20 25 30 Lys Ile Thr Phe Phe Tyr Asn Leu Thr His Tyr Phe Phe Asn Arg Cys 35 40 45 Phe Lys His Leu Phe Val Phe Val Glu Gln Ile Phe Leu Asn Ile Val 50 55 60 Tyr Thr Arg Asn Leu Ile Val Tyr Phe Ser Glu Leu Asn Tyr Ala Ile 65 70 75 80 Cys Ser Ser Val Asn Glu Ala Leu Thr Val Gln Ser Asn Pro Leu Lys 85 90 95 Val Leu Pro Trp Glu Ile Arg Arg Val Ser Asn Ser Gln Cys Leu Ser 100 105 110 Leu Ile Ser Val Pro Tyr Asn Asn Thr 115 120 82 154 PRT Homo sapiens 82 Met Asn Pro Gln Thr Val Leu Leu Leu Arg Val Ile Ala Ala Phe Cys 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Gly Ile Leu Cys Ser Leu Ser Ala Phe Leu Leu Asp Val Phe 20 25 30 Gly Pro Lys His Pro Ala Leu Lys Ile Thr Arg Arg Tyr Ala Phe Ala 35 40 45 His Ile Leu Thr Val Leu Gln Cys Ala Thr Val Ile Gly Phe Ser Tyr 50 55 60 Trp Ala Ser Glu Leu Ile Leu Ala Gln Gln Gln Gln His Lys Lys Tyr 65 70 75 80 His Gly Ser Gln Val Tyr Val Thr Phe Ala Val Ser Phe Tyr Leu Val 85 90 95 Ala Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Ser Ile Leu Ala Thr Ala Ala Asn Leu Leu 100 105 110 Arg His Tyr Pro Thr Glu Glu Glu Glu Gln Ala Leu Glu Leu Leu Ser 115 120 125 Glu Met Glu Glu Asn Glu Pro Tyr Pro Ala Glu Tyr Glu Val Ile Asn 130 135 140 Gln Phe Gln Pro Pro Pro Ala Tyr Thr Pro 145 150 83 190 PRT Homo sapiens 83 Met Met Asn Phe Gln Pro Pro Ser Lys Ala Trp Arg Ala Ser Gln Met 1 5 10 15 Met Thr Phe Phe Ile Phe Leu Leu Phe Phe Pro Ser Phe Thr Gly Val 20 25 30 Leu Cys Thr Leu Ala Ile Thr Ile Trp Arg Leu Lys Pro Ser Ala Asp 35 40 45 Cys Gly Pro Phe Arg Gly Leu Pro Leu Phe Ile His Ser Ile Tyr Ser 50 55 60 Trp Ile Asp Thr Leu Ser Thr Arg Pro Gly Tyr Leu Trp Val Val Trp 65 70 75 80 Ile Tyr Arg Asn Leu Ile Gly Ser Val His Phe Phe Phe Ile Leu Thr 85 90 95 Leu Ile Val Leu Ile Ile Thr Tyr Leu Tyr Trp Gln Ile Thr Glu Gly 100 105 110 Arg Lys Ile Met Ile Arg Leu Leu His Glu Gln Ile Ile Asn Glu Gly 115 120 125 Lys Asp Lys Met Phe Leu Ile Glu Lys Leu Ile Lys Leu Gln Asp Met 130 135 140 Glu Lys Lys Ala Asn Pro Ser Ser Leu Val Leu Glu Arg Arg Glu Val 145 150 155 160 Glu Gln Gln Gly Phe Leu His Leu Gly Glu His Asp Gly Ser Leu Asp 165 170 175 Leu Arg Ser Arg Arg Ser Val Gln Glu Gly Asn Pro Arg Ala 180 185 190 84 72 PRT Homo sapiens 84 Met His Ile Tyr Met Trp Val Cys Gly Met Cys Ala Cys Val Cys Met 1 5 10 15 Ala Ser Tyr Ile Ile Cys Gly Thr Lys Gly Lys Met Lys Leu Tyr Gly 20 25 30 Pro Arg Ser Lys Ile Arg Cys Gly Val Leu Leu Ser Thr Val Leu Cys 35 40 45 Asn Cys Thr Gly Cys Met Ser Met Lys Pro Ser Cys Val Cys Ala His 50 55 60 Met Cys Met Asn Met Tyr Phe Ile 65 70 85 42 PRT Homo sapiens 85 Met Gly Leu Pro Arg Gly Ser Phe Phe Trp Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Cys Ser Gly Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Tyr Phe Ser Ala Val Gln 20 25 30 Arg Tyr Pro Gly Pro Ala Ala Gly Ala Arg 35 40 86 74 PRT Homo sapiens 86 Met Ala Cys Leu Gly Ala Pro Ile Ser Ser Leu Leu Cys Trp Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Leu Ile Ala Leu Glu Ile Val Pro Pro Ala Ala Pro Cys Glu 20 25 30 Val Leu Thr Pro Leu Gln Ser Ser Thr Asn Pro Ile Val Asn Lys Leu 35 40 45 Gly Val Lys Asp Val Asn Glu Leu Val Thr Pro Met Gln Gly Ile Gln 50 55 60 Thr Cys Phe Asn Ile Lys Lys Lys Trp Pro 65 70 87 125 PRT Homo sapiens 87 Met Val Ala Arg Val Phe Tyr Tyr Leu Cys Val Ile Ala Leu Gln Tyr 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Pro Leu Val Met Leu Leu His Thr Thr Leu Leu Leu Lys Thr 20 25 30 Leu Gly Asn His Ser Trp Gly Ile Tyr Pro Glu Ser Ile Ser Thr Leu 35 40 45 Pro Val Asp Asn Ser Leu Leu Ser Asn Ser Val Tyr Ser Glu Leu Pro 50 55 60 Ser Ala Glu Gly Lys Met Lys Val Thr Val Thr Gln Ile Thr Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Leu Ser Ser Leu Lys Asn Ile Phe Thr Pro Leu Leu Phe Arg Gly Leu 85 90 95 Leu Ser Phe Leu Thr Trp Trp Ile Ala Ala Cys Leu Phe Ser Thr Ser 100 105 110 Leu Phe Gly Leu Phe Tyr His Gln Tyr Leu Thr Val Ala 115 120 125 88 257 PRT Homo sapiens 88 Met Leu Leu Thr Leu Ala Gly Gly Ala Leu Phe Phe Pro Gly Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 Ala Leu Cys Thr Trp Ala Leu Arg Arg Ser Gln Pro Gly Trp Ser Arg 20 25 30 Thr Asp Cys Val Met Ile Ser Thr Arg Leu Val Ser Ser Val His Ala 35 40 45 Val Leu Ala Thr Gly Ser Gly Ile Val Ile Ile Arg Ser Cys Asp Asp 50 55 60 Val Ile Thr Gly Arg His Trp Leu Ala Arg Glu Tyr Val Trp Phe Leu 65 70 75 80 Ile Pro Tyr Met Ile Tyr Asp Ser Tyr Ala Met Tyr Leu Cys Glu Trp 85 90 95 Cys Arg Thr Arg Asp Gln Asn Arg Ala Pro Ser Leu Thr Leu Arg Asn 100 105 110 Phe Leu Ser Arg Asn Arg Leu Met Ile Thr His His Ala Val Ile Leu 115 120 125 Phe Val Leu Val Pro Val Ala Gln Arg Leu Arg Gly Asp Leu Gly Asp 130 135 140 Phe Phe Val Gly Cys Ile Phe Thr Ala Glu Leu Ser Thr Pro Phe Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Gly Arg Val Leu Ile Gln Leu Lys Gln Gln His Thr Leu Leu 165 170 175 Tyr Lys Val Asn Gly Ile Leu Thr Leu Ala Thr Phe Leu Ser Cys Arg 180 185 190 Ile Leu Leu Phe Pro Phe Met Tyr Trp Ser Tyr Gly Arg Gln Gln Gly 195 200 205 Leu Ser Leu Leu Gln Val Pro Phe Ser Ile Pro Phe Tyr Cys Asn Val 210 215 220 Ala Asn Ala Phe Leu Val Ala Pro Gln Ile Tyr Trp Phe Cys Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Cys Arg Lys Ala Val Arg Leu Phe Asp Thr Pro Gln Ala Lys Lys Asp 245 250 255 Gly 89 121 PRT Homo sapiens 89 Met Thr Cys Phe Pro Thr Arg Leu Gly Leu Ser Cys Pro Lys Pro Ala 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu Leu Val Pro Leu Ala Leu Ala Gln Cys Val Val Pro Ala Gly 20 25 30 Phe Leu Gly Lys Cys Cys Leu Leu Gly Arg Leu Met Cys Ala Glu Cys 35 40 45 Ile Gly Thr Tyr Ser Trp Asp Gln Pro Arg Arg Arg Glu Glu Met Glu 50 55 60 Ala Arg Leu Asp Ser Gly Arg Ser Trp Ala Ser Val Leu Tyr Gly His 65 70 75 80 Arg Pro Gln Leu His Gly Glu Pro Cys Thr Ala Val Ala Cys Arg Arg 85 90 95 Val Pro Cys Cys Ser Glu Gly Ala Gly Pro Phe Ser Ser Leu Thr Asp 100 105 110 Gln Gln Leu Asn Ala Val Tyr Pro Gly 115 120 90 87 PRT Homo sapiens 90 Met Pro Thr Arg Gln Leu His Phe Lys Gln Leu Gln Leu Gln Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Val Ile Ala Val Thr Asp Asn Cys Leu Ser Phe Ser Val Lys 20 25 30 Gly Asn Leu Gly Thr Cys Pro Val Arg Ile Leu Val Ala Ser Phe Cys 35 40 45 Val His Val Cys Val His Val Arg Val Tyr Phe Ile Gln Ile Ser Leu 50 55 60 Cys Leu Lys Ser Gly Arg Lys Tyr Phe Lys Phe Leu Leu Leu Asn Cys 65 70 75 80 Ala Asn Val Glu Ile Ser Ser 85 91 82 PRT Homo sapiens 91 Met Gly Gln Met Gln Leu Cys Trp Gly His Trp Glu Thr Phe Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Arg Leu Leu Val Ala Ile Val Leu Cys Lys Val Ser Ile Met 20 25 30 Lys Glu Val Ile Ser Phe Gly Arg Leu Leu Glu Thr Met Leu Ile Pro 35 40 45 Trp Pro Cys Val Thr Leu Met Val Met Glu Arg Lys Ser Phe Leu Leu 50 55 60 Asp Leu Arg Ile Leu Ile Ser Glu Phe Leu Arg Lys Met Arg Leu Trp 65 70 75 80 Gln Lys 92 508 PRT Homo sapiens 92 Met Ala Gly Arg Thr Thr Ala Ala Pro Arg Gly Pro Tyr Gly Pro Trp 1 5 10 15 Leu Cys Leu Leu Val Ala Leu Ala Leu Asp Val Val Arg Val Asp Cys 20 25 30 Gly Gln Ala Pro Leu Asp Pro Val Tyr Leu Pro Ala Ala Leu Glu Leu 35 40 45 Leu Asp Ala Pro Glu His Phe Arg Val Gln Gln Val Gly His Tyr Pro 50 55 60 Pro Ala Asn Ser Ser Leu Ser Ser Arg Ser Glu Thr Phe Leu Leu Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Pro Trp Pro Arg Ala Gln Pro Leu Leu Arg Ala Ser Tyr Pro Pro 85 90 95 Phe Ala Thr Gln Gln Val Val Pro Pro Arg Val Thr Glu Pro His Gln 100 105 110 Arg Pro Val Pro Trp Asp Val Arg Ala Val Ser Val Glu Ala Ala Val 115 120 125 Thr Pro Ala Glu Pro Tyr Ala Arg Val Leu Phe His Leu Lys Gly Gln 130 135 140 Asp Trp Pro Pro Gly Ser Gly Ser Leu Pro Cys Ala Arg Leu His Ala 145 150 155 160 Thr His Pro Ala Gly Thr Ala His Gln Ala Cys Arg Phe Gln Pro Ser 165 170 175 Leu Gly Ala Cys Val Val Glu Leu Glu Leu Pro Ser His Trp Phe Ser 180 185 190 Gln Ala Ser Thr Thr Arg Ala Glu Leu Ala Tyr Thr Leu Glu Pro Ala 195 200 205 Ala Glu Gly Pro Gly Gly Cys Gly Ser Gly Glu Glu Asn Asp Pro Gly 210 215 220 Glu Gln Ala Leu Pro Val Gly Gly Val Glu Leu Arg Pro Ala Asp Pro 225 230 235 240 Pro Gln Tyr Gln Glu Val Pro Leu Asp Glu Ala Val Thr Leu Arg Val 245 250 255 Pro Asp Met Pro Val Arg Pro Gly Gln Leu Phe Ser Ala Thr Leu Leu 260 265 270 Leu Arg His Asn Phe Thr Ala Ser Leu Leu Thr Leu Arg Ile Lys Val 275 280 285 Lys Lys Gly Leu His Val Thr Ala Ala Arg Pro Ala Gln Pro Thr Leu 290 295 300 Trp Thr Ala Lys Leu Asp Arg Phe Lys Gly Ser Arg His His Thr Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Ile Thr Cys His Arg Ala Gly Leu Thr Glu Pro Asp Ser Ser Ser 325 330 335 Pro Leu Glu Leu Ser Glu Phe Leu Trp Val Asp Phe Val Val Glu Asn 340 345 350 Ser Thr Gly Gly Gly Val Ala Val Thr Arg Pro Val Thr Trp Gln Leu 355 360 365 Glu Tyr Pro Gly Gln Ala Pro Glu Ala Glu Lys Asp Lys Met Val Trp 370 375 380 Glu Ile Leu Val Ser Glu Arg Asp Ile Arg Ala Leu Ile Pro Leu Ala 385 390 395 400 Lys Val Ser Glu Ala Cys Asp Ala Val Phe Val Ala Gly Lys Glu Ser 405 410 415 Arg Gly Ala Arg Gly Val Arg Val Asp Phe Trp Trp Arg Arg Leu Arg 420 425 430 Ala Ser Leu Arg Leu Thr Val Trp Ala Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Arg Ile 435 440 445 Glu Leu Thr Asp Thr Thr Leu Glu Gln Val Arg Gly Trp Arg Val Pro 450 455 460 Gly Pro Ala Glu Gly Pro Ala Glu Pro Ala Ala Glu Ala Ser Asp Glu 465 470 475 480 Ala Glu Arg Arg Ala Arg Gly Cys His Leu Gln Tyr Gln Arg Ala Gly 485 490 495 Val Arg Phe Leu Ala Pro Phe Ala Ala His Pro Leu 500 505 93 47 PRT Homo sapiens 93 Met Phe Gly Ser Arg Gly Leu Leu Cys Met Cys Val Phe Phe Phe Asn 1 5 10 15 Ile Leu Ala Ser Gln Cys Lys Val Ile Ser Ser Gly Gly Met Leu Cys 20 25 30 Cys Arg Thr Pro Thr Leu Leu Asp Tyr Leu Arg Gln His Phe Leu 35 40 45 94 119 PRT Homo sapiens 94 Met Gly Phe Leu Gln Phe Gly Phe Gly Phe Leu Ser Ser Leu Asn Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Phe Val Ser Phe Ala Gln Cys Pro Ser Gln Val Ala Pro Met Pro 20 25 30 Ala Pro Gln Gly Pro Pro Leu Pro Val Asn Phe Thr Pro Cys Ser Met 35 40 45 Tyr Phe Lys Pro Tyr Ile Leu Arg Met Phe Gln Thr Phe Gly Lys Thr 50 55 60 Pro Phe Met Cys Phe Ser Val Thr His Lys His Phe Ile Tyr Val Asp 65 70 75 80 Glu Glu Cys Thr Gln Ala Pro Phe Val Ile Pro Cys Pro Gln Gln Ala 85 90 95 Leu Asn Ser Asn Asn Asn Phe His Ser Phe Cys Ala Ser Leu Asn Ser 100 105 110 Ser Cys Leu Val Gly Ala Gln 115 95 289 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (60) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 95 Met Ser Val Pro Gly Arg Trp Pro Pro Ala Arg Trp Arg Leu Ser Ile 1 5 10 15 Leu Ala Val Ser Ile Met Pro Cys Val Cys Leu Ala Ser Leu Leu Gln 20 25 30 Ile Leu Trp Thr Arg Ser Ser Ser Pro Ala His His Leu Ala Ser Pro 35 40 45 Phe Leu Cys Val Gln Ile Trp Gln Cys Gly Gly Xaa Leu Glu Thr His 50 55 60 Pro Cys Ser His Val Gly His Val Phe Pro Lys Gln Ala Pro Tyr Ser 65 70 75 80 Arg Asn Lys Ala Leu Ala Asn Ser Val Arg Ala Ala Glu Val Trp Met 85 90 95 Asp Glu Phe Lys Glu Leu Tyr Tyr His Arg Asn Pro Arg Ala Arg Leu 100 105 110 Glu Pro Phe Gly Asp Val Thr Glu Arg Lys Gln Leu Arg Asp Lys Leu 115 120 125 Gln Cys Lys Asp Phe Lys Trp Phe Leu Glu Thr Val Tyr Pro Glu Leu 130 135 140 His Val Pro Glu Asp Arg Pro Gly Phe Phe Gly Met Leu Gln Asn Lys 145 150 155 160 Gly Leu Thr Asp Tyr Cys Phe Asp Tyr Asn Pro Pro Asp Glu Asn Gln 165 170 175 Ile Val Gly His Gln Val Ile Leu Tyr Leu Cys His Gly Met Gly Gln 180 185 190 Asn Gln Phe Phe Glu Tyr Thr Ser Gln Lys Glu Ile Arg Tyr Asn Thr 195 200 205 His Gln Pro Glu Gly Cys Ile Ala Val Glu Ala Gly Met Asp Thr Leu 210 215 220 Ile Met His Leu Cys Glu Glu Thr Ala Pro Glu Asn Gln Lys Phe Ile 225 230 235 240 Leu Gln Glu Asp Gly Ser Leu Phe His Glu Gln Ser Lys Lys Cys Val 245 250 255 Gln Ala Ala Arg Lys Glu Ser Ser Asp Ser Phe Val Pro Leu Leu Arg 260 265 270 Asp Cys Thr Asn Ser Asp His Gln Lys Trp Phe Phe Lys Glu Arg Met 275 280 285 Leu 96 48 PRT Homo sapiens 96 Met Tyr Val Phe Phe Phe Leu Phe Ser Leu Val Leu His Leu Asn Cys 1 5 10 15 Pro Gln Ser Ala Pro His Gln Pro Cys Val Thr Pro Ser Thr His Lys 20 25 30 Thr Glu Gln Lys Thr Pro Ser Leu Ser Trp Ser Pro Leu Gly Met Gly 35 40 45 97 117 PRT Homo sapiens 97 Met Asp Thr Phe Cys Val Leu Ile Leu Cys Val Tyr Thr Cys Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 His Met Ser Ile His Arg Cys Val Cys Ile Leu Cys Val Tyr Phe Val 20 25 30 His Leu Trp Met Cys Val Cys Thr Ile Glu Ser Ile Ser Arg Arg Glu 35 40 45 Arg Glu Cys Val Cys Val Cys Val His Val Trp Met Cys Gly Tyr Ser 50 55 60 Met Ser Val Phe Arg Val Gln Val Tyr Gly Cys Ser Cys Ala Val Cys 65 70 75 80 Val Cys Ala His Thr His Ser Ala Ser Leu Cys Val Cys Met Cys Ile 85 90 95 Pro Cys Val Pro Met Tyr Arg Gly Cys Val Tyr Pro Ala Cys Leu Cys 100 105 110 Met Gly Glu His Met 115 98 48 PRT Homo sapiens 98 Met Ser Thr Val Thr Trp Leu Leu Lys Leu Phe Thr Gln Phe Met Phe 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Thr Val Ser Asn Ser His Thr Cys Ala Arg Tyr Tyr Val Phe 20 25 30 Asn Phe Cys Leu Ile Ile Ser Phe Asn Phe Asn Phe His Tyr His Trp 35 40 45 99 123 PRT Homo sapiens 99 Met Gln Ala Gln Phe Cys Cys Ser Ala Val Cys Ser Ala Phe Leu His 1 5 10 15 Ile Leu Ala Ser Pro Ser Gly Ala Lys Met Ala Ala Ala Phe Gln Ala 20 25 30 Ser His Pro Asp Ser Asp Pro Glu Lys Leu Pro Ile Pro Thr Trp Val 35 40 45 Ser Leu Cys Arg Asn Glu Lys Pro His Pro Ala Ala Glu Thr Ser Pro 50 55 60 Ser Ser Val Phe Ser Gly Leu Ile His Gln Arg Arg Pro Pro Leu Asn 65 70 75 80 Gln Ser Leu Ala Lys Arg Met Gly Pro Pro Gly Arg Leu Asp Gln Thr 85 90 95 Gly Pro Ala Leu Trp Gly Trp Gly Glu Ala Gln Met Lys Ala Ala Gly 100 105 110 Gln Asp Gly Leu Leu Asp Leu Cys Tyr Gln Gln 115 120 100 131 PRT Homo sapiens 100 Met Ile Thr Lys Pro Ser Lys Arg Gly Ile Ile Tyr Cys Leu Pro Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Phe Gln Leu Ser His Leu Ser Leu Ala Asn Leu Phe Leu Thr Ser 20 25 30 Leu Thr Ser Pro His Leu Thr Glu Phe Phe His Leu Leu Cys Gln Thr 35 40 45 Thr Gly Tyr Ser Asp Asp Asn Leu Leu Ser Leu Pro Val Ser Ser Gln 50 55 60 Thr Lys Ala Cys Phe Thr Lys Trp Gly Val Ser Ala Ala Ser Ser Ser 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Thr His Ser Cys Ser Ala Arg Gly Ser Gly Arg Val Ser Glu 85 90 95 His Arg Cys Gly Met Gln Ser Pro Arg Pro His Ala His Pro Ser Phe 100 105 110 Ser Cys Thr Ser Ala Asn Ser Ser Trp Leu Thr Cys Ala Ser Trp Leu 115 120 125 Glu Ser Leu 130 101 333 PRT Homo sapiens 101 Met Ser Pro Trp Ser Trp Phe Leu Leu Gln Thr Leu Cys Leu Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Ala Ala Ser Arg Arg Gly Ala Pro Gly Thr Ala Asn Cys Glu 20 25 30 Leu Lys Pro Gln Gln Ser Glu Leu Asn Ser Phe Leu Trp Thr Ile Lys 35 40 45 Arg Asp Pro Pro Ser Tyr Phe Phe Gly Thr Ile His Val Pro Tyr Thr 50 55 60 Arg Val Trp Asp Phe Ile Pro Asp Asn Ser Lys Glu Ala Phe Leu Gln 65 70 75 80 Ser Ser Ile Val Tyr Phe Glu Leu Asp Leu Thr Asp Pro Tyr Thr Ile 85 90 95 Ser Ala Leu Thr Ser Cys Gln Met Leu Pro Gln Gly Glu Asn Leu Gln 100 105 110 Asp Val Leu Pro Arg Asp Ile Tyr Cys Arg Leu Lys Arg His Leu Glu 115 120 125 Tyr Val Lys Leu Met Met Pro Leu Trp Met Thr Pro Asp Gln Arg Gly 130 135 140 Lys Gly Leu Tyr Ala Asp Tyr Leu Phe Asn Ala Ile Ala Gly Asn Trp 145 150 155 160 Glu Arg Lys Arg Pro Val Trp Val Met Leu Met Val Asn Ser Leu Thr 165 170 175 Glu Val Asp Ile Lys Ser Arg Gly Val Pro Val Leu Asp Leu Phe Leu 180 185 190 Ala Gln Glu Ala Glu Arg Leu Arg Lys Gln Thr Gly Ala Val Glu Lys 195 200 205 Val Glu Glu Gln Cys His Pro Leu Asn Gly Leu Asn Phe Ser Gln Val 210 215 220 Ile Phe Ala Leu Asn Gln Thr Leu Leu Gln Gln Glu Ser Leu Arg Ala 225 230 235 240 Gly Ser Leu Gln Ile Pro Tyr Thr Thr Glu Asp Leu Ile Lys His Tyr 245 250 255 Asn Cys Gly Asp Leu Ser Ser Val Ile Leu Ser His Asp Ser Ser Gln 260 265 270 Val Pro Asn Phe Ile Asn Ala Thr Leu Pro Pro Gln Glu Arg Ile Thr 275 280 285 Ala Gln Glu Ile Asp Ser Tyr Leu Arg Arg Glu Leu Ile Tyr Lys Arg 290 295 300 Asn Glu Arg Ile Gly Lys Arg Val Lys Ala Leu Leu Glu Glu Phe Pro 305 310 315 320 Asp Lys Gly Phe Phe Phe Ala Phe Gly Ala Ala Ser Gln 325 330 102 62 PRT Homo sapiens 102 Met Thr Trp Thr Lys Cys Pro Leu Pro Leu Gly Pro Ala Phe Phe Thr 1 5 10 15 Gln Cys Cys Leu Ile Gly Leu Leu Val Pro Leu Leu Gly Trp Gly Asn 20 25 30 Gln Asn Thr Gln Trp Tyr Pro Thr Ser Lys Met Pro Asp Leu Lys Asp 35 40 45 Ser Lys Thr Thr Asp Leu Cys Gln His Val Lys His Met Val 50 55 60 103 99 PRT Homo sapiens 103 Met Ser Glu Thr Phe Leu Glu Ser Val Asn Leu Leu Leu Val Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Thr Thr Leu Ile Ser Trp Met Ala Pro Arg Lys Lys Glu Ser 20 25 30 Phe Gln Glu Leu Ser Arg Gln Val Val Pro Cys Gln Met Met Leu Leu 35 40 45 Ser Thr Val Leu Pro Cys Leu Thr His Pro Arg Ile Lys Lys Gly Val 50 55 60 Leu Arg Phe Pro Gly Val Thr Leu Trp Leu Tyr Leu Arg Pro Phe Gln 65 70 75 80 Phe Tyr Gln Phe Ile Pro Met Asp His Arg Ser Leu Asp Ser Gln Phe 85 90 95 Arg Met Arg 104 86 PRT Homo sapiens 104 Met Gly Ala Asn Phe Thr Val Phe Leu Gln Tyr Leu Val Phe Pro Ile 1 5 10 15 Phe Gly Phe Leu Leu Ile Ile Ser His Pro Ser Gln Pro Leu Phe Ser 20 25 30 Ser Pro Pro Leu Cys Leu Gln His Pro Ile Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro Phe 35 40 45 Asn Leu Pro Ile Leu Phe Phe Pro Leu Lys Ser His Met Ile Leu Gln 50 55 60 Ser Ser Phe Val Phe Pro Lys Lys Lys Lys Asn Phe Phe Phe Phe Lys 65 70 75 80 Glu Ser Phe Leu Asp Ser 85 105 82 PRT Homo sapiens 105 Met Val Leu Arg Thr Asp Ser Val Pro Ala Leu Phe Thr Tyr Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Phe Trp Leu Ala Phe Ile Ser Gly Leu Ala Asp Ile Leu Thr Leu 20 25 30 Cys Thr Lys Met Ala Asp Thr Ile Ile Phe His His Ile Leu Gln Lys 35 40 45 Ile Leu Leu Leu Lys Asn Thr Leu Arg Asn Met Phe Tyr Gly Gln Ile 50 55 60 Ser Leu Gly Asn Ser Glu Leu Leu Phe Leu Leu Cys Arg Ile Thr Met 65 70 75 80 His Cys 106 44 PRT Homo sapiens 106 Met Arg Pro Asn Val Leu Gln Val Ala Phe Pro Ile Ser Thr His Arg 1 5 10 15 Cys Val Arg Pro Ser Cys Trp Leu Leu Phe Ile Leu Phe Arg Leu Leu 20 25 30 Pro Ile Met Ile Ser Gln Pro Gly Cys Asn Ser Cys 35 40 107 227 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (125) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 107 Met Gly Trp Thr Met Arg Leu Val Thr Ala Ala Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Met Met Val Val Thr Gly Asp Glu Asp Glu Asn Ser Pro Cys Ala His 20 25 30 Glu Ala Leu Leu Asp Glu Asp Thr Leu Phe Cys Gln Gly Leu Glu Val 35 40 45 Phe Tyr Pro Glu Leu Gly Asn Ile Gly Cys Lys Val Val Pro Asp Cys 50 55 60 Asn Asn Tyr Arg Gln Lys Ile Thr Ser Trp Met Glu Pro Ile Val Lys 65 70 75 80 Phe Pro Gly Ala Val Asp Gly Ala Thr Tyr Ile Leu Val Met Val Asp 85 90 95 Pro Asp Ala Pro Ser Arg Ala Glu Pro Arg Gln Arg Phe Trp Arg His 100 105 110 Trp Leu Val Thr Asp Ile Lys Gly Ala Asp Leu Lys Xaa Gly Lys Ile 115 120 125 Gln Gly Gln Glu Leu Ser Ala Tyr Gln Ala Pro Ser Pro Pro Ala His 130 135 140 Ser Gly Phe His Arg Tyr Gln Phe Phe Val Tyr Leu Gln Glu Gly Lys 145 150 155 160 Val Ile Ser Leu Leu Pro Lys Glu Asn Lys Thr Arg Gly Ser Trp Lys 165 170 175 Met Asp Arg Phe Leu Asn Arg Phe His Leu Gly Glu Pro Glu Ala Ser 180 185 190 Thr Gln Phe Met Thr Gln Asn Tyr Gln Asp Ser Pro Thr Leu Gln Ala 195 200 205 Pro Arg Glu Arg Ala Ser Glu Pro Lys His Lys Asn Gln Ala Glu Ile 210 215 220 Ala Ala Cys 225 108 65 PRT Homo sapiens 108 Met Gly Ala Arg Thr Pro His Trp Gly Gln Gly Gln Cys Trp Arg Ile 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Pro Phe Leu Leu Ser Phe Thr Phe Val Phe Asn Leu Gly Val 20 25 30 Arg Gly Glu Ala Leu Leu Gly Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Phe Leu His Leu 35 40 45 Pro Trp Phe Pro Ala Gln Pro Lys Ile Ile Trp Gln Pro Ser Gly Trp 50 55 60 Asn 65 109 209 PRT Homo sapiens 109 Met Glu Pro Leu Ala Ala Tyr Pro Leu Lys Cys Ser Gly Pro Arg Ala 1 5 10 15 Lys Val Phe Ala Val Leu Leu Ser Ile Val Leu Cys Thr Val Thr Leu 20 25 30 Phe Leu Leu Gln Leu Lys Phe Leu Lys Pro Lys Ile Asn Ser Phe Tyr 35 40 45 Ala Phe Glu Val Lys Asp Ala Lys Gly Arg Thr Val Ser Leu Glu Lys 50 55 60 Tyr Lys Gly Lys Val Ser Leu Val Val Asn Val Ala Ser Asp Cys Gln 65 70 75 80 Leu Thr Asp Arg Asn Tyr Leu Gly Leu Lys Glu Leu His Lys Glu Phe 85 90 95 Gly Pro Ser His Phe Ser Val Leu Ala Phe Pro Cys Asn Gln Phe Gly 100 105 110 Glu Ser Glu Pro Arg Pro Ser Lys Glu Val Glu Ser Phe Ala Arg Lys 115 120 125 Asn Tyr Gly Val Thr Phe Pro Ile Phe His Lys Ile Lys Ile Leu Gly 130 135 140 Ser Glu Gly Glu Pro Ala Phe Arg Phe Leu Val Asp Ser Ser Lys Lys 145 150 155 160 Glu Pro Arg Trp Asn Phe Trp Lys Tyr Leu Val Asn Pro Glu Gly Gln 165 170 175 Val Val Lys Phe Trp Arg Pro Glu Glu Pro Ile Glu Val Ile Arg Pro 180 185 190 Asp Ile Ala Ala Leu Val Arg Gln Val Ile Ile Lys Lys Lys Glu Asp 195 200 205 Leu 110 215 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (102) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 110 Met Gln Ile Leu Gly Val Val Leu Thr Leu Leu Gly Trp Val Asn Gly 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Ser Cys Ala Leu Pro Met Trp Lys Val Thr Ala Phe Ile Gly 20 25 30 Asn Ser Ile Val Val Ala Gln Val Val Trp Glu Gly Leu Trp Met Ser 35 40 45 Cys Val Val Gln Ser Thr Gly Gln Met Gln Cys Lys Val Tyr Asp Ser 50 55 60 Leu Leu Ala Leu Pro Gln Asp Leu Gln Ala Ala Arg Ala Leu Cys Val 65 70 75 80 Ile Ala Leu Leu Val Ala Leu Phe Gly Leu Leu Val Tyr Leu Ala Gly 85 90 95 Ala Lys Cys Thr Thr Xaa Phe Tyr Xaa Lys Asp Ser Lys Ala Arg Leu 100 105 110 Val Leu Thr Ser Gly Ile Val Phe Val Ile Ser Gly Val Leu Thr Leu 115 120 125 Ile Pro Val Cys Trp Thr Ala His Ala Ile Ile Arg Asp Phe Tyr Asn 130 135 140 Pro Leu Val Ala Glu Ala Gln Lys Arg Glu Leu Gly Ala Ser Leu Tyr 145 150 155 160 Leu Gly Trp Ala Ala Ser Gly Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Gly Leu Leu 165 170 175 Cys Cys Thr Cys Pro Ser Gly Gly Ser Gln Gly Pro Ser His Tyr Met 180 185 190 Ala Arg Tyr Ser Thr Ser Ala Pro Ala Ile Ser Arg Gly Pro Ser Glu 195 200 205 Tyr Pro Thr Lys Asn Tyr Val 210 215 111 276 PRT Homo sapiens 111 Met Glu Ser Arg Met Trp Pro Ala Leu Leu Leu Ser His Leu Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Leu Trp Pro Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Pro Pro Pro Ala Gln Gly Ser 20 25 30 Ser Ser Ser Pro Arg Thr Pro Pro Gly Pro Ala Arg Pro Pro Cys Ala 35 40 45 Arg Gly Gly Pro Ser Ala Pro Arg His Val Cys Val Trp Glu Arg Ala 50 55 60 Pro Pro Pro Ser Arg Ser Pro Arg Val Pro Arg Ser Arg Arg Gln Val 65 70 75 80 Leu Pro Gly Thr Ala Pro Pro Ala Thr Pro Ser Gly Phe Glu Glu Gly 85 90 95 Pro Pro Ser Ser Gln Tyr Pro Trp Ala Ile Val Trp Gly Pro Thr Val 100 105 110 Ser Arg Glu Asp Gly Gly Asp Pro Asn Ser Ala Asn Pro Gly Phe Leu 115 120 125 Asp Tyr Gly Phe Ala Ala Pro His Gly Leu Ala Thr Pro His Pro Asn 130 135 140 Ser Asp Ser Met Arg Gly Asp Gly Asp Gly Leu Ile Leu Gly Glu Ala 145 150 155 160 Pro Ala Thr Leu Arg Ser Phe Leu Phe Gly Gly Arg Gly Glu Gly Val 165 170 175 Asp Pro Gln Leu Tyr Val Thr Ile Thr Ile Ser Ile Ile Ile Val Leu 180 185 190 Val Ala Thr Gly Ile Ile Phe Lys Phe Cys Trp Asp Arg Ser Gln Lys 195 200 205 Arg Arg Arg Pro Ser Gly Gln Gln Gly Ala Leu Arg Gln Glu Glu Ser 210 215 220 Gln Gln Pro Leu Thr Asp Leu Ser Pro Ala Gly Val Thr Val Leu Gly 225 230 235 240 Ala Phe Gly Asp Ser Pro Thr Pro Thr Pro Asp His Asp Glu Pro Arg 245 250 255 Gly Gly Pro Arg Pro Gly Met Pro His Pro Lys Gly Ala Pro Ala Phe 260 265 270 Gln Leu Asn Arg 275 112 86 PRT Homo sapiens 112 Met Arg Leu Val Thr Ala Ala Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Met Met Val Val 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Asp Glu Asp Glu Asn Ser Pro Cys Ala His Glu Ala Leu Leu 20 25 30 Asp Glu Asp Thr Leu Phe Cys Gln Gly Leu Glu Val Phe Tyr Pro Glu 35 40 45 Leu Gly Asn Ile Gly Cys Lys Val Val Pro Asp Cys Asn Asn Tyr Arg 50 55 60 Gln Lys Ile Thr Ser Trp Met Glu Ala Asp Ser Gln Val Pro Gly Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Gly Arg Arg Asn Leu 85 113 29 PRT Homo sapiens 113 Ala Ala Pro Asp Gly Gly Thr Met Ser Ser Ser Gly Gly Ala Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Ala Ser Ala Ser Ser Ala Pro Pro Ala Gln Glu Glu Gly 20 25 114 191 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (12) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 114 Arg Arg Arg Arg Asn Gln Asp Arg Pro Gln Leu Xaa Lys Lys Phe Cys 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Ser Trp Arg Phe Leu Phe Tyr Leu Ser Ser Phe Val Gly Gly 20 25 30 Leu Ser Val Leu Tyr His Glu Ser Trp Leu Trp Ala Pro Val Met Cys 35 40 45 Trp Asp Arg Tyr Pro Asn Gln Thr Leu Lys Pro Ser Leu Tyr Trp Trp 50 55 60 Tyr Leu Leu Glu Leu Gly Phe Tyr Leu Ser Leu Leu Ile Arg Leu Pro 65 70 75 80 Phe Asp Val Lys Arg Lys Asp Phe Lys Glu Gln Val Ile His His Phe 85 90 95 Val Ala Val Ile Leu Met Thr Phe Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asn Leu Leu Arg 100 105 110 Ile Gly Ser Leu Val Leu Leu Leu His Asp Ser Ser Asp Tyr Leu Leu 115 120 125 Glu Ala Cys Lys Met Val Asn Tyr Met Gln Tyr Gln Gln Val Cys Asp 130 135 140 Ala Leu Phe Leu Ile Phe Ser Phe Val Phe Phe Tyr Thr Arg Leu Val 145 150 155 160 Leu Phe Pro Thr Gln Ile Leu Tyr Thr Thr Tyr Tyr Glu Ser Ile Ser 165 170 175 Asn Arg Gly Pro Phe Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Phe Asn Gly Leu Leu 180 185 190 115 46 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (12) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 115 Arg Arg Arg Arg Asn Gln Asp Arg Pro Gln Leu Xaa Lys Lys Phe Cys 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Ser Trp Arg Phe Leu Phe Tyr Leu Ser Ser Phe Val Gly Gly 20 25 30 Leu Ser Val Leu Tyr His Glu Ser Trp Leu Trp Ala Pro Val 35 40 45 116 48 PRT Homo sapiens 116 Met Cys Trp Asp Arg Tyr Pro Asn Gln Thr Leu Lys Pro Ser Leu Tyr 1 5 10 15 Trp Trp Tyr Leu Leu Glu Leu Gly Phe Tyr Leu Ser Leu Leu Ile Arg 20 25 30 Leu Pro Phe Asp Val Lys Arg Lys Asp Phe Lys Glu Gln Val Ile His 35 40 45 117 47 PRT Homo sapiens 117 His Phe Val Ala Val Ile Leu Met Thr Phe Ser Tyr Ser Ala Asn Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Arg Ile Gly Ser Leu Val Leu Leu Leu His Asp Ser Ser Asp Tyr 20 25 30 Leu Leu Glu Ala Cys Lys Met Val Asn Tyr Met Gln Tyr Gln Gln 35 40 45 118 50 PRT Homo sapiens 118 Val Cys Asp Ala Leu Phe Leu Ile Phe Ser Phe Val Phe Phe Tyr Thr 1 5 10 15 Arg Leu Val Leu Phe Pro Thr Gln Ile Leu Tyr Thr Thr Tyr Tyr Glu 20 25 30 Ser Ile Ser Asn Arg Gly Pro Phe Phe Gly Tyr Tyr Phe Phe Asn Gly 35 40 45 Leu Leu 50 119 43 PRT Homo sapiens 119 Lys Thr Tyr Val Leu Pro Ser Pro Gly Leu Ser Ile Arg Pro Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Arg Glu Val Pro Gly Ser His Pro Phe Pro Ala Pro Ala Leu Glu Thr 20 25 30 Ala Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Arg Asp Ser Asp Ser 35 40 120 345 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (280) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 120 Lys Thr Tyr Val Leu Pro Ser Pro Gly Leu Ser Ile Arg Pro Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Arg Glu Val Pro Gly Ser His Pro Phe Pro Ala Pro Ala Leu Glu Thr 20 25 30 Ala Ala Pro Arg Leu Leu Arg Asp Ser Asp Ser Met Lys Ala Pro Gly 35 40 45 Arg Leu Val Leu Ile Ile Leu Cys Ser Val Val Phe Ser Ala Val Tyr 50 55 60 Ile Leu Leu Cys Cys Trp Ala Gly Leu Pro Leu Cys Leu Ala Thr Cys 65 70 75 80 Leu Asp His His Phe Pro Thr Gly Ser Arg Pro Thr Val Pro Gly Pro 85 90 95 Leu His Phe Ser Gly Tyr Ser Ser Val Pro Asp Gly Lys Pro Leu Val 100 105 110 Arg Glu Pro Cys Arg Ser Cys Ala Val Val Ser Ser Ser Gly Gln Met 115 120 125 Leu Gly Ser Gly Leu Gly Ala Glu Ile Asp Ser Ala Glu Cys Val Phe 130 135 140 Arg Met Asn Gln Ala Pro Thr Val Gly Phe Glu Ala Asp Val Gly Gln 145 150 155 160 Arg Ser Thr Leu Arg Val Val Ser His Thr Ser Val Pro Leu Leu Leu 165 170 175 Arg Asn Tyr Ser His Tyr Phe Gln Lys Ala Arg Asp Thr Leu Tyr Met 180 185 190 Val Trp Gly Gln Gly Arg His Met Asp Arg Val Leu Gly Gly Arg Thr 195 200 205 Tyr Arg Thr Leu Leu Gln Leu Thr Arg Met Tyr Pro Gly Leu Gln Val 210 215 220 Tyr Thr Phe Thr Glu Arg Met Met Ala Tyr Cys Asp Gln Ile Phe Gln 225 230 235 240 Asp Glu Thr Gly Lys Asn Arg Arg Gln Ser Gly Ser Phe Leu Ser Thr 245 250 255 Gly Trp Phe Thr Met Ile Leu Ala Leu Glu Leu Cys Glu Glu Ile Val 260 265 270 Val Tyr Gly Met Val Ser Asp Xaa Tyr Cys Arg Glu Lys Ser His Pro 275 280 285 Ser Val Pro Tyr His Tyr Phe Glu Lys Gly Arg Leu Asp Glu Cys Gln 290 295 300 Met Tyr Leu Ala His Glu Gln Ala Pro Arg Ser Ala His Arg Phe Ile 305 310 315 320 Thr Glu Lys Ala Val Phe Ser Arg Trp Ala Lys Lys Arg Pro Ile Val 325 330 335 Phe Ala His Pro Ser Trp Arg Thr Glu 340 345 121 966 DNA Homo sapiens 121 acatggtgtg gggccagggc aggcacatgg accgggtgct cggcggccgc acctaccgca 60 cgctgctgca gctcaccagg atgtaccccg gcctgcaggt gtacaccttc acggagcgca 120 tgatggccta ctgcgaccag atcttccagg acgagacggg caagaaccgg aggcagtcgg 180 gctccttcct cagcaccggc tggttcacca tgatcctcgc gctggagctg tgtgaggaga 240 tcgtggtcta tgggatggtc agcgacacta ctgcagggag aagagccacc cctcagtgcc 300 ttaccactac tttgagaagg gccggctaga tgagtgtcag atgtacctgg cacacgagca 360 ggcgccccga agcgcccacc gcttcatcac tgagaaggcg gtcttctccc gctgggccaa 420 gaagaggccc atcgtgttcg cccatccgtc ctggaggact gagtagcttc cgtcgtcctg 480 ccagccgcca tgccgttgcg aggcctccgg gatgtcccat cccaagccat cacactccac 540 aaaaacattt aatttatggt tcctgccctc tgccacgtgc tgggtggacc taaggttctt 600 cccacccatt ctggcgacac ttggagccat ctcaggcccc tccactccct gagtaattca 660 tggcatttgg gggctcaccc cacctccagg tctgtcaagt ggcctttgtc cctggggctg 720 atggccccca actcaccagc atcatgacct tgtgccagtc ctggtcctcc ctccccagcc 780 gcccctacca ccttttggtg ccacacttct caggctggcc gccctggttg gggcagccga 840 gagcctgggg ttcattggtg aaggggcctt ggagttgtga ctgccggggc cgtatcagga 900 acgtacgggt aaacgtgtgt tttctggaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 960 aaaaaa 966 122 185 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (51) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 122 Thr Arg Asn Lys Ile Trp Ser Ser Thr Arg Gly Gly Gly Arg Ser Arg 1 5 10 15 Thr Ser Gly Ser Pro Gly Leu Gln Glu Phe Gly Thr Arg Ser His Leu 20 25 30 Ala Ala Val His Met Ala Ala Trp Val Phe Pro Leu Leu Ser Val Ile 35 40 45 His Thr Xaa Leu Pro Gln Ala Ser Pro Glu Ile Trp Val Thr Gln Ser 50 55 60 Glu Gly Gly Asp Gln Gly Val Ala Cys Glu Xaa Val Gly Gly Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Ser Thr Leu Asp Arg Ile Glu Leu Cys Phe Leu Ser Asp Arg Ala Ser 85 90 95 Ser Gly Cys Xaa Asp Lys Xaa Pro Gln Thr Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Gly 100 105 110 Ala Gly Ile Cys His Glu Gly Val Gly Arg Ala Gly Ser Ser Arg Ala 115 120 125 Leu Ser Pro Gly Pro Ala Xaa Ala Val Phe Pro Ser Phe Pro Cys Ala 130 135 140 Phe Pro Gly Pro Ser Cys Val Cys Leu Cys Pro Arg Leu Ser Trp Xaa 145 150 155 160 Xaa Tyr Arg Ser Gln Gly Pro Trp Ser Tyr Trp Ile Arg Ala Thr Leu 165 170 175 Met Ala Ser Cys His Cys Ser Tyr Leu 180 185 123 53 PRT Homo sapiens 123 Phe Leu Gly Val Leu Val Ser Ile Ile Met Leu Ser Pro Gly Val Glu 1 5 10 15 Ser Gln Leu Tyr Lys Leu Pro Trp Val Cys Glu Glu Gly Ala Gly Ile 20 25 30 Pro Thr Val Leu Gln Gly His Ile Asp Cys Gly Ser Leu Leu Gly Tyr 35 40 45 Arg Ala Val Tyr Arg 50 124 58 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (46) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 124 Pro Gly Ala Gly Arg Pro Lys Pro Gly Ala Ala Ala Met Gly Ala Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Ala Cys Ser Leu Leu Ser Cys Ala Ser Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser 20 25 30 Ala Pro Cys Ile Leu Cys Ser Cys Cys Pro Ala Ser Arg Xaa Ser Thr 35 40 45 Val Ser Arg Leu Ile Phe Thr Phe Phe Leu 50 55 125 468 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (46) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 125 Pro Gly Ala Gly Arg Pro Lys Pro Gly Ala Ala Ala Met Gly Ala Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Ala Cys Ser Leu Leu Ser Cys Ala Ser Cys Leu Cys Gly Ser 20 25 30 Ala Pro Cys Ile Leu Cys Ser Cys Cys Pro Ala Ser Arg Xaa Ser Thr 35 40 45 Val Ser Arg Leu Ile Phe Thr Phe Phe Leu Phe Leu Gly Val Leu Val 50 55 60 Ser Ile Ile Met Leu Ser Pro Gly Val Glu Ser Gln Leu Tyr Lys Leu 65 70 75 80 Pro Trp Val Cys Glu Glu Gly Ala Gly Ile Pro Thr Val Leu Gln Gly 85 90 95 His Ile Asp Cys Gly Ser Leu Leu Gly Tyr Arg Ala Val Tyr Arg Met 100 105 110 Cys Phe Ala Thr Ala Ala Phe Phe Phe Phe Phe Thr Leu Leu Met Leu 115 120 125 Cys Val Ser Ser Ser Arg Asp Pro Arg Ala Ala Ile Gln Asn Gly Phe 130 135 140 Trp Phe Phe Lys Phe Leu Ile Leu Val Gly Xaa Thr Val Gly Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 Tyr Ile Pro Asp Gly Ser Phe Thr Asn Ile Trp Phe Tyr Phe Gly Val 165 170 175 Val Gly Ser Phe Leu Phe Ile Leu Ile Gln Leu Val Leu Leu Ile Asp 180 185 190 Phe Ala His Ser Trp Asn Gln Arg Trp Leu Gly Lys Ala Glu Glu Cys 195 200 205 Asp Ser Arg Ala Trp Tyr Ala Gly Leu Phe Phe Phe Thr Leu Leu Phe 210 215 220 Tyr Leu Leu Ser Ile Ala Ala Val Ala Leu Met Phe Met Tyr Tyr Thr 225 230 235 240 Glu Pro Ser Gly Cys His Glu Gly Lys Val Phe Ile Ser Leu Asn Leu 245 250 255 Thr Phe Cys Val Cys Val Ser Ile Ala Ala Val Leu Pro Lys Val Gln 260 265 270 Asp Ala Gln Pro Asn Ser Gly Leu Leu Gln Ala Ser Val Ile Thr Leu 275 280 285 Tyr Thr Met Phe Val Thr Trp Ser Ala Leu Ser Ser Ile Pro Glu Gln 290 295 300 Lys Cys Asn Pro His Leu Pro Thr Gln Leu Gly Asn Glu Thr Val Val 305 310 315 320 Ala Gly Pro Glu Gly Tyr Glu Thr Gln Trp Trp Asp Ala Pro Ser Ile 325 330 335 Val Gly Leu Ile Ile Phe Leu Leu Cys Thr Leu Phe Ile Ser Leu Arg 340 345 350 Ser Ser Asp His Arg Gln Val Asn Ser Leu Met Gln Thr Glu Glu Cys 355 360 365 Pro Pro Met Leu Asp Ala Thr Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Gln Val Ala Ala 370 375 380 Cys Glu Gly Arg Ala Phe Asp Asn Glu Gln Asp Gly Val Thr Tyr Ser 385 390 395 400 Tyr Ser Phe Phe His Phe Cys Leu Val Leu Ala Ser Leu His Val Met 405 410 415 Met Thr Leu Thr Asn Trp Tyr Lys Pro Gly Glu Thr Arg Lys Met Ile 420 425 430 Ser Thr Trp Thr Ala Val Trp Val Lys Ile Cys Ala Ser Trp Ala Gly 435 440 445 Leu Leu Leu Tyr Leu Trp Thr Leu Val Ala Pro Leu Leu Leu Arg Asn 450 455 460 Arg Asp Phe Ser 465 126 44 PRT Homo sapiens 126 Arg Cys Ser Ser Ile Phe Thr Pro Trp Lys Leu Thr Thr Leu Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu His His His Pro Gly Ala Gln Arg Ser Lys Leu Leu Ser Ile 20 25 30 Phe Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu Thr Leu Tyr Arg 35 40 127 155 PRT Homo sapiens 127 Arg Cys Ser Ser Ile Phe Thr Pro Trp Lys Leu Thr Thr Leu Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu His His His Pro Gly Ala Gln Arg Ser Lys Leu Leu Ser Ile 20 25 30 Phe Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Thr Leu Thr Leu Tyr Arg Met Gly Pro Ser 35 40 45 Ser Cys Leu Leu Leu Ile Leu Ile Pro Leu Leu Gln Leu Ile Asn Leu 50 55 60 Gly Ser Thr Gln Cys Ser Leu Asp Ser Val Met Asp Lys Lys Ile Lys 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Leu Asn Ser Leu Glu Tyr Ser Pro Ser Pro Ile Ser Lys Lys 85 90 95 Leu Ser Cys Ala Ser Val Lys Ser Gln Gly Arg Pro Ser Ser Cys Pro 100 105 110 Ala Gly Met Ala Val Thr Gly Cys Ala Cys Gly Tyr Gly Cys Gly Ser 115 120 125 Trp Asp Val Gln Leu Glu Thr Thr Cys His Cys Gln Cys Ser Val Val 130 135 140 Asp Trp Thr Thr Ala Arg Cys Cys His Leu Thr 145 150 155 128 41 PRT Homo sapiens 128 Ser Val Ser Thr Thr Arg Ser Phe Ser Val Asp Ser Ser Ala Lys Thr 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Met Pro Val Thr Val Thr Arg Thr Thr Ile Thr Thr Thr Thr 20 25 30 Thr Ser Ser Ser Gly Leu Gly Ser Pro 35 40 129 17 PRT Homo sapiens 129 Ser Thr Cys Val Ala Phe Ser Leu Val Ala Ser Val Gly Ala Trp Thr 1 5 10 15 Gly 130 8 PRT Homo sapiens 130 Met Phe Thr Trp Cys Phe Cys Phe 1 5 131 6 PRT Homo sapiens 131 Ile Leu Ile Val Glu Leu 1 5 132 22 PRT Homo sapiens 132 Phe Pro Leu Ser Trp Arg Asn Phe Pro Ile Thr Phe Ala Cys Tyr Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Leu Phe Cys Leu Ser 20 133 12 PRT Homo sapiens 133 Ser Ile Ile Tyr Pro Thr Thr Tyr Val Gln Phe Leu 1 5 10 134 8 PRT Homo sapiens 134 Arg Asp His Ala Ile Ala Ala Thr 1 5 135 29 PRT Homo sapiens 135 Ala Tyr Ala Thr Glu Val Ala Trp Thr Arg Ala Arg Pro Gly Glu Ile 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Tyr Met Ala Thr Val Pro Gly Leu Leu Lys Val 20 25 136 12 PRT Homo sapiens 136 Glu Thr Phe Val Ala Cys Ile Ile Phe Ala Phe Ile 1 5 10 137 9 PRT Homo sapiens 137 Ala Leu Glu Trp Cys Val Ala Val Tyr 1 5 138 10 PRT Homo sapiens 138 Cys Thr Asn Val Leu Pro Ile Pro Phe Pro 1 5 10 139 442 PRT Homo sapiens 139 Gly Leu Asp Thr Gly Glu Met Ser Asn Ser Thr Ser Ser Leu Lys Arg 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Leu Gly Ser Glu Arg Ala Ala Ser His Val Ala Gln Ala Asn 20 25 30 Leu Lys Leu Leu Asp Val Ser Lys Ile Phe Pro Ile Ala Glu Ile Ala 35 40 45 Glu Glu Ser Ser Pro Glu Val Val Pro Val Glu Leu Leu Cys Met Pro 50 55 60 Ser Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Asp Leu His Thr Lys Pro Leu Gly Thr Asp 65 70 75 80 Asp Asp Phe Trp Gly Pro Thr Gly Pro Val Ala Thr Glu Val Val Asp 85 90 95 Lys Glu Lys Asn Leu Tyr Arg Val His Phe Pro Val Ala Gly Ser Tyr 100 105 110 Arg Trp Pro Asn Thr Gly Leu Cys Phe Val Met Arg Glu Ala Val Thr 115 120 125 Val Glu Ile Glu Phe Cys Val Trp Asp Gln Phe Leu Gly Glu Ile Asn 130 135 140 Pro Gln His Ser Trp Met Val Ala Gly Pro Leu Leu Asp Ile Lys Ala 145 150 155 160 Glu Pro Gly Ala Val Glu Ala Val His Leu Pro His Phe Val Ala Leu 165 170 175 Gln Gly Gly His Val Asp Thr Ser Leu Phe Gln Val Ala His Phe Lys 180 185 190 Glu Glu Gly Met Leu Leu Glu Lys Pro Ala Arg Val Glu Leu His His 195 200 205 Ile Val Leu Glu Asn Pro Ser Phe Ser Pro Leu Gly Val Leu Leu Lys 210 215 220 Met Ile His Asn Ala Leu Arg Phe Ile Pro Val Thr Ser Val Val Leu 225 230 235 240 Leu Tyr His Arg Val His Pro Glu Glu Val Thr Phe His Leu Tyr Leu 245 250 255 Ile Pro Ser Asp Cys Ser Ile Arg Lys Glu Leu Glu Leu Cys Tyr Arg 260 265 270 Ser Pro Gly Glu Asp Gln Leu Phe Ser Glu Phe Tyr Val Gly His Leu 275 280 285 Gly Ser Gly Ile Arg Leu Gln Val Lys Asp Lys Lys Asp Glu Thr Leu 290 295 300 Val Trp Glu Ala Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Asp Leu Met Pro Ala Thr Thr 305 310 315 320 Leu Ile Pro Pro Ala Arg Ile Ser Val Pro Ser Pro Leu Asp Ala Pro 325 330 335 Gln Leu Leu His Phe Val Asp Gln Tyr Arg Glu Gln Leu Ile Ala Arg 340 345 350 Val Thr Ser Val Glu Val Val Leu Asp Lys Leu His Gly Gln Val Leu 355 360 365 Ser Gln Glu Gln Tyr Glu Arg Val Leu Ala Glu Asn Thr Arg Pro Ser 370 375 380 Gln Met Arg Lys Leu Phe Ser Leu Ser Gln Ser Trp Asp Arg Lys Cys 385 390 395 400 Lys Asp Gly Leu Tyr Gln Ala Leu Lys Glu Thr His Pro His Ser Leu 405 410 415 Trp Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Ala Ala Lys Arg Asp Ser Cys His Ser Ala 420 425 430 Ala Glu Val Ser Thr Leu Ala Leu Asp Pro 435 440 140 64 PRT Homo sapiens 140 Gly Leu Asp Thr Gly Glu Met Ser Asn Ser Thr Ser Ser Leu Lys Arg 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Leu Gly Ser Glu Arg Ala Ala Ser His Val Ala Gln Ala Asn 20 25 30 Leu Lys Leu Leu Asp Val Ser Lys Ile Phe Pro Ile Ala Glu Ile Ala 35 40 45 Glu Glu Ser Ser Pro Glu Val Val Pro Val Glu Leu Leu Cys Met Pro 50 55 60 141 61 PRT Homo sapiens 141 Ser Pro Ala Ser Gln Gly Asp Leu His Thr Lys Pro Leu Gly Thr Asp 1 5 10 15 Asp Asp Phe Trp Gly Pro Thr Gly Pro Val Ala Thr Glu Val Val Asp 20 25 30 Lys Glu Lys Asn Leu Tyr Arg Val His Phe Pro Val Ala Gly Ser Tyr 35 40 45 Arg Trp Pro Asn Thr Gly Leu Cys Phe Val Met Arg Glu 50 55 60 142 63 PRT Homo sapiens 142 Ala Val Thr Val Glu Ile Glu Phe Cys Val Trp Asp Gln Phe Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Glu Ile Asn Pro Gln His Ser Trp Met Val Ala Gly Pro Leu Leu Asp 20 25 30 Ile Lys Ala Glu Pro Gly Ala Val Glu Ala Val His Leu Pro His Phe 35 40 45 Val Ala Leu Gln Gly Gly His Val Asp Thr Ser Leu Phe Gln Val 50 55 60 143 65 PRT Homo sapiens 143 Ala His Phe Lys Glu Glu Gly Met Leu Leu Glu Lys Pro Ala Arg Val 1 5 10 15 Glu Leu His His Ile Val Leu Glu Asn Pro Ser Phe Ser Pro Leu Gly 20 25 30 Val Leu Leu Lys Met Ile His Asn Ala Leu Arg Phe Ile Pro Val Thr 35 40 45 Ser Val Val Leu Leu Tyr His Arg Val His Pro Glu Glu Val Thr Phe 50 55 60 His 65 144 65 PRT Homo sapiens 144 Leu Tyr Leu Ile Pro Ser Asp Cys Ser Ile Arg Lys Glu Leu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Cys Tyr Arg Ser Pro Gly Glu Asp Gln Leu Phe Ser Glu Phe Tyr Val 20 25 30 Gly His Leu Gly Ser Gly Ile Arg Leu Gln Val Lys Asp Lys Lys Asp 35 40 45 Glu Thr Leu Val Trp Glu Ala Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Asp Leu Met Pro 50 55 60 Ala 65 145 65 PRT Homo sapiens 145 Thr Thr Leu Ile Pro Pro Ala Arg Ile Ser Val Pro Ser Pro Leu Asp 1 5 10 15 Ala Pro Gln Leu Leu His Phe Val Asp Gln Tyr Arg Glu Gln Leu Ile 20 25 30 Ala Arg Val Thr Ser Val Glu Val Val Leu Asp Lys Leu His Gly Gln 35 40 45 Val Leu Ser Gln Glu Gln Tyr Glu Arg Val Leu Ala Glu Asn Thr Arg 50 55 60 Pro 65 146 59 PRT Homo sapiens 146 Ser Gln Met Arg Lys Leu Phe Ser Leu Ser Gln Ser Trp Asp Arg Lys 1 5 10 15 Cys Lys Asp Gly Leu Tyr Gln Ala Leu Lys Glu Thr His Pro His Ser 20 25 30 Leu Trp Asn Ser Gly Arg Arg Ala Ala Lys Arg Asp Ser Cys His Ser 35 40 45 Ala Ala Glu Val Ser Thr Leu Ala Leu Asp Pro 50 55 147 18 PRT Homo sapiens 147 Ser Glu Gln Leu Pro Thr Ile Ala Gln Ile His Pro Ala Glu Ala Met 1 5 10 15 Phe Leu 148 20 PRT Homo sapiens 148 Tyr Ser Ser Pro Ala Cys Gln His Asp Gln Ala Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu 1 5 10 15 Asp Val Thr Asp 20 149 85 PRT Homo sapiens 149 Ala Pro His Arg Ser Gly Ala Ala His Ser Ser Ala Arg Cys Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Ala Glu Arg Pro Arg Gln Phe Arg Thr Lys Arg Cys Gly Gln 20 25 30 Ala Thr Gly Pro Ala Gly Asn Ile Met Ala Glu Lys Val Asn Asn Phe 35 40 45 Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Phe Ile Pro Leu Lys Pro Cys Phe Tyr Gln Asp 50 55 60 Phe Glu Ala Asp Ile Pro Pro Gln His Val Ser Met Thr Lys Arg Leu 65 70 75 80 Tyr Tyr Leu Trp Met 85 150 20 PRT Homo sapiens 150 Gly Ala Ala His Ser Ser Ala Arg Cys Gly Leu Ser Ala Ala Glu Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Gln Phe 20 151 23 PRT Homo sapiens 151 Ala Thr Gly Pro Ala Gly Asn Ile Met Ala Glu Lys Val Asn Asn Phe 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Phe Ile 20 152 13 PRT Homo sapiens 152 Ile Pro Pro Gln His Val Ser Met Thr Lys Arg Leu Tyr 1 5 10 153 184 PRT Homo sapiens 153 His His Gly Arg Glu Ser Glu Gln Leu Pro Thr Ile Ala Gln Ile His 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Glu Ala Met Phe Leu Pro Arg Leu Arg Gly Arg Tyr Ser Ser 20 25 30 Pro Ala Cys Gln His Asp Gln Ala Pro Leu Leu Pro Leu Asp Val Thr 35 40 45 Asp Ser Ser Phe Ser Phe Met Ala Phe Phe Phe Thr Phe Met Ala Gln 50 55 60 Leu Val Ile Ser Ile Ile Gln Ala Val Gly Ile Pro Gly Trp Gly Val 65 70 75 80 Cys Gly Trp Ile Ala Thr Ile Ser Phe Phe Gly Thr Asn Ile Gly Ser 85 90 95 Ala Val Val Met Leu Ile Pro Thr Val Met Phe Thr Val Met Ala Val 100 105 110 Phe Ser Phe Ile Ala Leu Ser Met Val His Lys Phe Tyr Arg Gly Ser 115 120 125 Gly Gly Ser Phe Ser Lys Ala Gln Glu Glu Trp Thr Thr Gly Ala Trp 130 135 140 Lys Asn Pro His Val Gln Gln Ala Ala Gln Asn Ala Ala Met Gly Ala 145 150 155 160 Ala Gln Gly Ala Met Asn Gln Pro Gln Thr Gln Tyr Ser Ala Thr Pro 165 170 175 Asn Tyr Thr Tyr Ser Asn Glu Met 180 154 6 PRT Homo sapiens 154 Ala Arg Glu Ser Ser Asn 1 5 155 120 PRT Homo sapiens 155 Arg Asn Cys Thr Lys Ser Leu Asp His Pro Thr Ser Ala Cys Trp Leu 1 5 10 15 Phe Pro Asp Asn Gln Phe Gly Glu Ser Glu Pro Arg Pro Ser Lys Glu 20 25 30 Val Glu Ser Phe Ala Arg Lys Asn Tyr Gly Val Thr Phe Pro Ile Phe 35 40 45 His Lys Ile Lys Ile Leu Gly Ser Glu Gly Glu Pro Ala Phe Arg Phe 50 55 60 Leu Val Asp Ser Ser Lys Lys Glu Pro Arg Trp Asn Phe Trp Lys Tyr 65 70 75 80 Leu Val Asn Pro Glu Gly Gln Val Val Lys Phe Trp Arg Pro Glu Glu 85 90 95 Pro Ile Glu Val Ile Arg Pro Asp Ile Ala Ala Leu Val Arg Gln Val 100 105 110 Ile Ile Lys Lys Lys Glu Asp Leu 115 120 156 24 PRT Homo sapiens 156 Ala Cys Trp Leu Phe Pro Asp Asn Gln Phe Gly Glu Ser Glu Pro Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Lys Glu Val Glu Ser Phe 20 157 22 PRT Homo sapiens 157 Glu Gly Glu Pro Ala Phe Arg Phe Leu Val Asp Ser Ser Lys Lys Glu 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Trp Asn Phe Trp 20 158 20 PRT Homo sapiens 158 Lys Phe Trp Arg Pro Glu Glu Pro Ile Glu Val Ile Arg Pro Asp Ile 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Leu Val 20 159 48 PRT Homo sapiens 159 Val Leu Asn Gly Lys Ile Leu Val Asp Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Lys Ile 1 5 10 15 Asn Gln Tyr Pro Glu Ser Asn Ala Glu Tyr Leu Ala His Leu Val Pro 20 25 30 Gly Ala His Val Val Lys Ala Phe Asn Thr Ile Ser Ala Trp Ala Leu 35 40 45 160 47 PRT Homo sapiens 160 Gln Ser Gly Ala Leu Asp Ala Ser Arg Gln Val Phe Val Cys Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 Asp Ser Lys Ala Lys Gln Arg Val Met Asp Ile Val Arg Asn Leu Gly 20 25 30 Leu Thr Pro Met Asp Gln Gly Ser Leu Met Ala Ala Lys Glu Ile 35 40 45 161 48 PRT Homo sapiens 161 Glu Lys Tyr Pro Leu Gln Leu Phe Pro Met Trp Arg Phe Pro Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Ala Val Leu Cys Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Val Ile Arg 20 25 30 Asp Val Ile Tyr Pro Tyr Val Tyr Glu Lys Lys Asp Asn Thr Phe Arg 35 40 45 162 375 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (179) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 162 Val Leu Asn Gly Lys Ile Leu Val Asp Ile Ser Asn Asn Leu Lys Ile 1 5 10 15 Asn Gln Tyr Pro Glu Ser Asn Ala Glu Tyr Leu Ala His Leu Val Pro 20 25 30 Gly Ala His Val Val Lys Ala Phe Asn Thr Ile Ser Ala Trp Ala Leu 35 40 45 Gln Ser Gly Ala Leu Asp Ala Ser Arg Gln Val Phe Val Cys Gly Asn 50 55 60 Asp Ser Lys Ala Lys Gln Arg Val Met Asp Ile Val Arg Asn Leu Gly 65 70 75 80 Leu Thr Pro Met Asp Gln Gly Ser Leu Met Ala Ala Lys Glu Ile Glu 85 90 95 Lys Tyr Pro Leu Gln Leu Phe Pro Met Trp Arg Phe Pro Phe Tyr Leu 100 105 110 Ser Ala Val Leu Cys Val Phe Leu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Val Ile Arg Asp 115 120 125 Val Ile Tyr Pro Tyr Val Tyr Glu Lys Lys Asp Asn Thr Phe Arg Met 130 135 140 Ala Ile Ser Ile Pro Asn Arg Ile Phe Pro Ile Thr Ala Leu Thr Leu 145 150 155 160 Leu Ala Leu Val Tyr Ser Leu Val Leu Leu Leu Pro Phe Tyr Asn Cys 165 170 175 Thr Glu Xaa Thr Lys Tyr Arg Arg Phe Pro Asp Trp Leu Asp His Trp 180 185 190 Met Leu Cys Arg Lys Gln Leu Gly Leu Val Ala Leu Gly Phe Ala Phe 195 200 205 Leu Xaa Val Leu Xaa Xaa Leu Val Ile Pro Ile Arg Tyr Tyr Val Arg 210 215 220 Xaa Arg Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Val Thr Gln Xaa Ile Leu Lys Lys Glu 225 230 235 240 Asn Pro Phe Ser Thr Ser Ser Ala Trp Leu Ser Asp Ser Tyr Val Ala 245 250 255 Leu Gly Ile Leu Gly Phe Phe Leu Phe Val Leu Leu Gly Ile Thr Ser 260 265 270 Leu Pro Ser Val Ser Asn Ala Val Asn Trp Arg Glu Phe Arg Phe Val 275 280 285 Gln Ser Lys Leu Gly Tyr Leu Thr Leu Ile Leu Cys Thr Ala His Thr 290 295 300 Leu Val Tyr Gly Gly Lys Arg Phe Leu Ser Pro Ser Asn Leu Arg Trp 305 310 315 320 Tyr Leu Pro Ala Ala Tyr Val Leu Gly Leu Ile Ile Pro Cys Thr Val 325 330 335 Leu Val Ile Lys Phe Val Leu Ile Met Pro Cys Val Asp Asn Thr Leu 340 345 350 Thr Arg Ile Arg Arg Ala Gly Lys Gly Thr Gln Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser 355 360 365 Ile Glu Trp Lys Ile Asn Ile 370 375 163 10 PRT Homo sapiens 163 Lys Lys Thr Asn Lys Thr Lys Thr Tyr Tyr 1 5 10 164 21 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (18) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 164 Arg Ala Pro Pro Ser Ser Val Tyr Gln Asn Gln Gln Ala Arg Ala Gln 1 5 10 15 Leu Xaa Asp Phe Cys 20 165 38 PRT Homo sapiens 165 Thr Thr Cys Tyr Leu Asn Thr Tyr Met Phe Asn Ile Asn Thr Tyr Ile 1 5 10 15 Lys Phe Thr Cys Ile Leu Asn Thr Tyr Val Lys Tyr Ile Gln Cys Ile 20 25 30 Tyr Ile Cys Thr Gln Tyr 35 166 24 PRT Homo sapiens 166 Cys Arg Asn Ser Ala Arg Ala Pro Ile Lys Asn Leu Asn Pro Leu Pro 1 5 10 15 Thr Gln Lys His Cys Val Phe Leu 20 167 17 PRT Homo sapiens 167 Thr Arg Pro Lys Lys Glu Ala Gly Arg Ile Ser Thr Val Glu Leu Gln 1 5 10 15 Lys 168 13 PRT Homo sapiens 168 His Glu Arg Arg His Glu Ala Ala Gly Pro Ala Ala Pro 1 5 10 169 153 PRT Homo sapiens 169 Met Val Pro Asn Gln Arg Pro Glu Pro Cys Ala Leu Pro His Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Lys Leu Pro Lys Ser Lys Pro Pro His Asp His Thr Ser Cys Gly His 20 25 30 Ser Leu Cys Pro Cys Ala Ser Arg Thr Glu Ala Pro Gly Arg Pro Trp 35 40 45 Gly Leu Leu Cys Arg Leu His Leu His Gly Arg Thr Glu His Ser Val 50 55 60 Cys Val Ala Gly Gln Gly Ser Asp Ser Ala Lys Ala Ala Ala His Pro 65 70 75 80 Ser Val Gln Gly Glu Trp Asn Pro His Ala Gly His Leu Pro Phe Leu 85 90 95 Pro Asp Pro Ser Leu Pro Leu His Val Leu Val Leu Trp Pro Pro Ala 100 105 110 Gly Thr Lys Pro Ala Pro Ser Thr Leu Gln His Pro Ile Leu Leu Gln 115 120 125 Arg Gly Gln Cys Leu Pro Arg Ser Ser Ser Asp Leu Leu Val Leu Ser 130 135 140 Ala Val Gln Glu Gly Ser Pro Ala Leu 145 150 170 21 PRT Homo sapiens 170 Cys Ala Leu Pro His Ser Ser Lys Leu Pro Lys Ser Lys Pro Pro His 1 5 10 15 Asp His Thr Ser Cys 20 171 24 PRT Homo sapiens 171 Glu Ala Pro Gly Arg Pro Trp Gly Leu Leu Cys Arg Leu His Leu His 1 5 10 15 Gly Arg Thr Glu His Ser Val Cys 20 172 25 PRT Homo sapiens 172 Gln Gly Ser Asp Ser Ala Lys Ala Ala Ala His Pro Ser Val Gln Gly 1 5 10 15 Glu Trp Asn Pro His Ala Gly His Leu 20 25 173 24 PRT Homo sapiens 173 Ala Pro Ser Thr Leu Gln His Pro Ile Leu Leu Gln Arg Gly Gln Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Arg Ser Ser Ser Asp Leu 20 174 11 PRT Homo sapiens 174 Ser Val His Ala Val Leu Ala Thr Gly Ser Gly 1 5 10 175 246 PRT Homo sapiens 175 Thr Arg Pro Val Ser Cys Leu Thr Ala Gly Val Leu Asn Pro Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Gly Tyr Asp Ala Leu Leu Val Gly Thr Gln Thr Asn Leu Leu Ala Tyr 20 25 30 Asp Val Tyr Asn Asn Ser Asp Leu Phe Tyr Arg Glu Val Ala Asp Gly 35 40 45 Ala Asn Ala Ile Val Leu Gly Thr Leu Gly Asp Ile Ser Ser Pro Leu 50 55 60 Ala Ile Ile Gly Gly Asn Cys Ala Leu Gln Gly Phe Asn His Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Ser Asp Leu Phe Trp Thr Val Thr Gly Asp Asn Val Asn Ser Leu Ala 85 90 95 Leu Cys Asp Phe Asp Gly Asp Gly Lys Lys Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asp Phe Asp Ile Arg Val Phe Lys Glu Asp Glu Ile Val Ala Glu 115 120 125 Met Thr Glu Thr Glu Ile Val Thr Ser Leu Cys Pro Met Tyr Gly Ser 130 135 140 Arg Phe Gly Tyr Ala Leu Ser Asn Gly Thr Val Gly Val Tyr Asp Lys 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Arg Tyr Trp Arg Ile Lys Ser Lys Asn His Ala Met Ser Ile 165 170 175 His Val Phe Asp Leu Asn Ser Asp Gly Val Asn Glu Leu Ile Thr Gly 180 185 190 Trp Ser Asn Gly Lys Val Asp Ala Arg Ser Asp Arg Thr Gly Glu Val 195 200 205 Ile Phe Lys Asp Asn Phe Ser Ser Ala Ile Ala Gly Val Val Glu Gly 210 215 220 Asp Tyr Arg Met Asp Gly His Ile Gln Leu Ile Cys Cys Ser Val Asp 225 230 235 240 Gly Glu Ser Lys Leu Gly 245 176 52 PRT Homo sapiens 176 Thr Arg Pro Val Ser Cys Leu Thr Ala Gly Val Leu Asn Pro Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Gly Tyr Asp Ala Leu Leu Val Gly Thr Gln Thr Asn Leu Leu Ala Tyr 20 25 30 Asp Val Tyr Asn Asn Ser Asp Leu Phe Tyr Arg Glu Val Ala Asp Gly 35 40 45 Ala Asn Ala Ile 50 177 53 PRT Homo sapiens 177 Val Leu Gly Thr Leu Gly Asp Ile Ser Ser Pro Leu Ala Ile Ile Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Asn Cys Ala Leu Gln Gly Phe Asn His Glu Gly Ser Asp Leu Phe 20 25 30 Trp Thr Val Thr Gly Asp Asn Val Asn Ser Leu Ala Leu Cys Asp Phe 35 40 45 Asp Gly Asp Gly Lys 50 178 54 PRT Homo sapiens 178 Lys Glu Leu Leu Val Gly Ser Glu Asp Phe Asp Ile Arg Val Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 Glu Asp Glu Ile Val Ala Glu Met Thr Glu Thr Glu Ile Val Thr Ser 20 25 30 Leu Cys Pro Met Tyr Gly Ser Arg Phe Gly Tyr Ala Leu Ser Asn Gly 35 40 45 Thr Val Gly Val Tyr Asp 50 179 37 PRT Homo sapiens 179 Lys Thr Ser Arg Tyr Trp Arg Ile Lys Ser Lys Asn His Ala Met Ser 1 5 10 15 Ile His Val Phe Asp Leu Asn Ser Asp Gly Val Asn Glu Leu Ile Thr 20 25 30 Gly Trp Ser Asn Gly 35 180 50 PRT Homo sapiens 180 Lys Val Asp Ala Arg Ser Asp Arg Thr Gly Glu Val Ile Phe Lys Asp 1 5 10 15 Asn Phe Ser Ser Ala Ile Ala Gly Val Val Glu Gly Asp Tyr Arg Met 20 25 30 Asp Gly His Ile Gln Leu Ile Cys Cys Ser Val Asp Gly Glu Ser Lys 35 40 45 Leu Gly 50 181 55 PRT Homo sapiens 181 His Ala Ser Gly Arg Gly Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Arg 1 5 10 15 Asp Pro Ala Gly Gln Val Gly Thr Ala Arg Ser Gly Cys Gly Arg Cys 20 25 30 Arg Ala Gly Leu Gly Pro Pro Glu Pro Pro Ala Ser Ser Pro Pro Ser 35 40 45 Val Gly Arg Met Cys Ala Arg 50 55 182 287 PRT Homo sapiens 182 Thr Thr Ser Pro Ser Trp Ala Thr Ser Leu Leu Arg Gly Cys Gln Ala 1 5 10 15 Lys Gly Pro Thr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met Ser Ser Arg Gly Thr Glu Leu 20 25 30 Arg Thr Ala Ser Val Lys Leu Ala Lys Gly Ser Thr Ser Arg Glu Val 35 40 45 Pro Arg Met Ser Ser Arg Ser Ala Met Gly Lys Ser Thr Thr Cys Ser 50 55 60 Lys Asn Leu Trp Gly Ser Gly Ser Gln Arg Thr Gln Cys Arg Ala Ser 65 70 75 80 Gln Arg Arg Cys Arg Pro Gly Ser Gly Glu Pro Cys Leu Pro Ser Arg 85 90 95 Gln Pro Glu Cys Pro Pro Leu Gly Arg Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Cys Arg 100 105 110 Trp Gln Arg Gln Arg Phe His Glu Leu Gln Pro Ala Leu Arg Gln Gly 115 120 125 Cys Pro Thr Leu Lys Phe Lys Pro Lys Arg Ser Val Ala Ala Ala Ser 130 135 140 Glu Met Ser Thr Gln Gly Gln Glu His Asn Phe Trp Ala Trp Gln Asp 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser Leu Lys Pro Ile Asp Val Leu Arg Val Glu Pro Gln Lys Gln 165 170 175 Pro Leu Val Met Lys Gln Pro Glu Lys Val Val Ser Asp Val Gly Leu 180 185 190 Val Val Ser Arg Val Gln Leu Leu Gly Gln Ser Glu Lys Gly Leu Gly 195 200 205 Val Val Lys Glu Glu Trp Glu Phe Lys Asn Gly Leu Gly Val Arg Glu 210 215 220 Ile Val Leu Leu Glu Val Ala Val Gln Ala Thr Pro Arg Arg Ser Glu 225 230 235 240 Val Trp Asn Ala Thr Gly Cys Ala Asp Ala Gly Pro His His Asp His 245 250 255 His Pro Leu Ala Gly Ser Gly Pro Asn Gln Leu Ser Tyr Ile Leu Gln 260 265 270 Gly Lys Leu Pro Leu Val Thr Ala Ala Ser Thr Ser Asn Asn Thr 275 280 285 183 26 PRT Homo sapiens 183 Leu Leu Arg Gly Cys Gln Ala Lys Gly Pro Thr Lys Ser Arg Leu Met 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Arg Gly Thr Glu Leu Arg Thr Ala 20 25 184 23 PRT Homo sapiens 184 Met Gly Lys Ser Thr Thr Cys Ser Lys Asn Leu Trp Gly Ser Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Thr Gln Cys Arg Ala 20 185 26 PRT Homo sapiens 185 Gly Ser Gly Glu Pro Cys Leu Pro Ser Arg Gln Pro Glu Cys Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Arg Val Phe Gly Arg Leu Cys Arg 20 25 186 24 PRT Homo sapiens 186 Pro Thr Leu Lys Phe Lys Pro Lys Arg Ser Val Ala Ala Ala Ser Glu 1 5 10 15 Met Ser Thr Gln Gly Gln Glu His 20 187 26 PRT Homo sapiens 187 Trp Gln Asp Ser Ser Leu Lys Pro Ile Asp Val Leu Arg Val Glu Pro 1 5 10 15 Gln Lys Gln Pro Leu Val Met Lys Gln Pro 20 25 188 23 PRT Homo sapiens 188 Val Ala Val Gln Ala Thr Pro Arg Arg Ser Glu Val Trp Asn Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Gly Cys Ala Asp Ala Gly Pro 20 189 223 PRT Homo sapiens 189 Asp Trp Leu Leu Ser Val Ser Phe Ala Ala Val Phe Phe Ser Val Ser 1 5 10 15 Ile Lys Gly Gly Arg Arg Ser Ile Ser Phe Ser Val Gly Ala Ser Ser 20 25 30 Val Val Gly Ser Gly Gly Ser Ser Asp Lys Gly Lys Leu Ser Leu Gln 35 40 45 Asp Val Ala Glu Leu Ile Arg Ala Arg Ala Cys Gln Arg Val Val Val 50 55 60 Met Val Gly Ala Gly Ile Ser Thr Pro Ser Gly Ile Pro Asp Phe Arg 65 70 75 80 Ser Pro Gly Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Asn Leu Gln Gln Tyr Asp Leu Pro 85 90 95 Tyr Pro Glu Ala Ile Phe Glu Leu Pro Phe Phe Phe His Asn Pro Lys 100 105 110 Pro Phe Phe Thr Leu Ala Lys Glu Leu Tyr Pro Gly Asn Tyr Lys Pro 115 120 125 Asn Val Thr His Tyr Phe Leu Arg Leu Leu His Asp Lys Gly Leu Leu 130 135 140 Leu Arg Leu Tyr Thr Gln Asn Ile Asp Gly Leu Glu Arg Gly Val Leu 145 150 155 160 Pro Ser Pro Glu Val Val Leu Leu Ala Leu Arg Ala His Leu Gly Gly 165 170 175 Gly Ser Asn Thr Ser Leu Trp Leu Glu Phe Gln Cys Arg Ala Ser Leu 180 185 190 Pro Gln Ser Trp Leu Lys Leu Met Glu Pro Leu Pro Leu Pro Pro Ala 195 200 205 Gln Ser Ala Lys Asp Pro Ser Gln Gly Arg Thr Phe Gly Leu Thr 210 215 220 190 22 PRT Homo sapiens 190 Gly Gly Arg Arg Ser Ile Ser Phe Ser Val Gly Ala Ser Ser Val Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Gly Gly Ser Ser 20 191 23 PRT Homo sapiens 191 Lys Leu Ser Leu Gln Asp Val Ala Glu Leu Ile Arg Ala Arg Ala Cys 1 5 10 15 Gln Arg Val Val Val Met Val 20 192 24 PRT Homo sapiens 192 Tyr Ser Asn Leu Gln Gln Tyr Asp Leu Pro Tyr Pro Glu Ala Ile Phe 1 5 10 15 Glu Leu Pro Phe Phe Phe His Asn 20 193 24 PRT Homo sapiens 193 Leu Tyr Pro Gly Asn Tyr Lys Pro Asn Val Thr His Tyr Phe Leu Arg 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu His Asp Lys Gly Leu Leu 20 194 27 PRT Homo sapiens 194 Leu Pro Ser Pro Glu Val Val Leu Leu Ala Leu Arg Ala His Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Gly Gly Ser Asn Thr Ser Leu Trp Leu Glu Phe 20 25 195 128 PRT Homo sapiens 195 Arg Asp Gly Arg Gln Gly Ser Pro Leu Pro Gly Leu His Arg Arg Cys 1 5 10 15 Glu Ala Arg His Cys Val Leu Trp Glu Pro Leu Pro Gln Arg Phe Leu 20 25 30 Leu His Val Val Asp Phe Pro Met Ala Asp Leu Leu Leu Ile Leu Gly 35 40 45 Thr Ser Leu Glu Val Glu Pro Phe Ala Ser Leu Thr Glu Ala Val Arg 50 55 60 Ser Ser Val Pro Arg Leu Leu Ile Asn Arg Asp Leu Val Gly Pro Leu 65 70 75 80 Ala Trp His Pro Arg Ser Arg Asp Val Ala Gln Leu Gly Asp Val Val 85 90 95 His Gly Val Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Leu Gly Trp Thr Glu Glu Met 100 105 110 Arg Asp Leu Val Gln Arg Glu Thr Gly Lys Leu Asp Gly Pro Asp Lys 115 120 125 196 24 PRT Homo sapiens 196 Leu Pro Gly Leu His Arg Arg Cys Glu Ala Arg His Cys Val Leu Trp 1 5 10 15 Glu Pro Leu Pro Gln Arg Phe Leu 20 197 25 PRT Homo sapiens 197 Val Val Asp Phe Pro Met Ala Asp Leu Leu Leu Ile Leu Gly Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Glu Val Glu Pro Phe Ala Ser Leu 20 25 198 22 PRT Homo sapiens 198 Leu Val Gly Pro Leu Ala Trp His Pro Arg Ser Arg Asp Val Ala Gln 1 5 10 15 Leu Gly Asp Val Val His 20 199 23 PRT Homo sapiens 199 Val Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Leu Leu Gly Trp Thr Glu Glu Met Arg Asp 1 5 10 15 Leu Val Gln Arg Glu Thr Gly 20 200 96 PRT Homo sapiens 200 Ile Ser Val Ser Gly Ile Pro Ala Ser Lys Leu Val Glu Ala His Gly 1 5 10 15 Thr Phe Ala Ser Ala Thr Cys Thr Val Cys Gln Arg Pro Phe Pro Gly 20 25 30 Glu Asp Ile Arg Ala Asp Val Met Ala Asp Arg Val Pro Arg Cys Pro 35 40 45 Val Cys Thr Gly Val Val Lys Pro Asp Ile Val Phe Phe Gly Ser Arg 50 55 60 Cys Pro Arg Gly Ser Cys Cys Met Trp Leu Ile Ser Pro Trp Gln Ile 65 70 75 80 Cys Cys Ser Ser Leu Gly Pro Pro Trp Arg Trp Ser Leu Leu Pro Ala 85 90 95 201 33 PRT Homo sapiens 201 Glu Ala His Gly Thr Phe Ala Ser Ala Thr Cys Thr Val Cys Gln Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Phe Pro Gly Glu Asp Ile Arg Ala Asp Val Met Ala Asp Arg Val 20 25 30 Pro 202 27 PRT Homo sapiens 202 Phe Phe Gly Ser Arg Cys Pro Arg Gly Ser Cys Cys Met Trp Leu Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Trp Gln Ile Cys Cys Ser Ser Leu Gly 20 25 203 184 PRT Homo sapiens 203 Thr Arg Pro Leu Ser Pro Thr Phe Ser Lys Leu Trp Ala Ala Gly Val 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Cys Thr Asp Phe Ser Met Cys Val Cys Gly Cys Met Tyr Glu 20 25 30 Cys Val Cys Val Phe Val Cys Leu Cys Ile Tyr Arg Gly Met Arg Val 35 40 45 Pro Trp Val Cys Thr Leu Asp Ile Pro Leu Tyr Ile Leu Cys Val Leu 50 55 60 Thr Trp Thr His Ser Val Tyr Leu Tyr Cys Val Tyr Thr His Val Gln 65 70 75 80 Pro Ile Cys Pro Tyr Ile Gly Val Cys Val Tyr Tyr Val Cys Thr Leu 85 90 95 Ser Thr Tyr Gly Cys Val Cys Val Pro Leu Ser Pro Tyr Leu Gly Glu 100 105 110 Arg Glu Asn Val Cys Val Cys Val Ser Met Tyr Gly Cys Val Asp Ile 115 120 125 Leu Cys Leu Tyr Leu Glu Cys Arg Tyr Met Asp Val His Val Leu Cys 130 135 140 Val Cys Val Arg Thr His Thr Leu Pro Leu Cys Val Cys Ala Cys Val 145 150 155 160 Tyr Leu Val Cys Pro Cys Ile Gly Gly Val Cys Thr Leu Leu Val Tyr 165 170 175 Val Trp Gly Ser Thr Cys Ser Leu 180 204 55 PRT Homo sapiens 204 Ala Ser Leu Ile Phe Ser Ser Pro Leu Ser Pro Leu Leu Thr Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Ser Ile Cys Ser Val Arg Pro Leu Gly Ile Val Met Ile Thr 20 25 30 Cys Phe His Ser Arg Cys His Leu Lys Gln Arg Pro Ala Ser Pro Asn 35 40 45 Gly Val Phe Gln Gln Arg Ala 50 55 205 43 PRT Homo sapiens 205 Ala His Leu Ser Pro Thr Ala Ala Leu His Val Ala Gln Gly Glu Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Thr Asp Val Glu Cys Arg Val Pro Gly Leu Met Leu Thr Leu 20 25 30 Leu Leu Ala Val His Gln Gln Ile Leu Val Gly 35 40 206 42 PRT Homo sapiens 206 Leu Pro Val Gln Val Gly Trp Ser Leu Cys Asn Thr Asp Gly Pro Lys 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Cys Gly Arg Gln Gly Leu Met Leu Leu Thr Gly His His Cys 20 25 30 Gln Ala Ser Lys His Lys Ser Gln Gly Leu 35 40 207 140 PRT Homo sapiens 207 Ala Ser Leu Ile Phe Ser Ser Pro Leu Ser Pro Leu Leu Thr Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Ser Ile Cys Ser Val Arg Pro Leu Gly Ile Val Met Ile Thr 20 25 30 Cys Phe His Ser Arg Cys His Leu Lys Gln Arg Pro Ala Ser Pro Asn 35 40 45 Gly Val Phe Gln Gln Arg Ala Ala His Leu Ser Pro Thr Ala Ala Leu 50 55 60 His Val Ala Gln Gly Glu Ser Leu Ser Thr Asp Val Glu Cys Arg Val 65 70 75 80 Pro Gly Leu Met Leu Thr Leu Leu Leu Ala Val His Gln Gln Ile Leu 85 90 95 Val Gly Leu Pro Val Gln Val Gly Trp Ser Leu Cys Asn Thr Asp Gly 100 105 110 Pro Lys Leu Leu Cys Gly Arg Gln Gly Leu Met Leu Leu Thr Gly His 115 120 125 His Cys Gln Ala Ser Lys His Lys Ser Gln Gly Leu 130 135 140 208 219 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (169) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 208 Val Glu Ala Glu Trp Leu Gln Asp Val Gly Leu Ser Thr Leu Ile Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Gly Lys Ala Leu Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Arg 20 25 30 Thr Gln Ala Ala Ala Val Gln Lys Arg Tyr His Thr Tyr Thr Gln Thr 35 40 45 Met Arg Lys Lys Asp Lys Gln Ser Ile Arg Asp Val Arg Asp Ile Phe 50 55 60 Gly Val Ser Glu Ser Pro Pro Arg Asp Thr Cys Gly Asn His Thr Asn 65 70 75 80 Gln Leu Asp Gly Thr Lys Glu Glu Arg Glu Leu Pro Arg Val Ile Lys 85 90 95 Thr Ser Gly Ser Met Pro Asp Asp Ala Ser Leu Asn Ser Thr Thr Leu 100 105 110 Ser Asp Ala Ser Gln Asp Lys Glu Gly Ser Phe Ala Val Pro Arg Ser 115 120 125 Asp Ser Val Ala Ile Leu Glu Thr Ile Pro Val Leu Pro Val His Ser 130 135 140 Asn Gly Ser Pro Glu Pro Gly Gln Pro Val Gln Asn Ala Ile Ser Asp 145 150 155 160 Asp Asp Phe Leu Glu Lys Asn Ile Xaa Pro Glu Ala Glu Glu Leu Ser 165 170 175 Phe Glu Val Ser Tyr Ser Glu Met Val Thr Glu Ala Leu Lys Arg Asn 180 185 190 Lys Leu Lys Lys Ser Glu Ile Lys Lys Glu Asp Tyr Val Leu Thr Lys 195 200 205 Phe Asn Xaa Gln Lys Thr Arg Phe Gly Leu Thr 210 215 209 50 PRT Homo sapiens 209 Val Glu Ala Glu Trp Leu Gln Asp Val Gly Leu Ser Thr Leu Ile Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Asp Glu Glu Glu Asp Gly Lys Ala Leu Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Arg 20 25 30 Thr Gln Ala Ala Ala Val Gln Lys Arg Tyr His Thr Tyr Thr Gln Thr 35 40 45 Met Arg 50 210 54 PRT Homo sapiens 210 Lys Lys Asp Lys Gln Ser Ile Arg Asp Val Arg Asp Ile Phe Gly Val 1 5 10 15 Ser Glu Ser Pro Pro Arg Asp Thr Cys Gly Asn His Thr Asn Gln Leu 20 25 30 Asp Gly Thr Lys Glu Glu Arg Glu Leu Pro Arg Val Ile Lys Thr Ser 35 40 45 Gly Ser Met Pro Asp Asp 50 211 52 PRT Homo sapiens 211 Ala Ser Leu Asn Ser Thr Thr Leu Ser Asp Ala Ser Gln Asp Lys Glu 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Phe Ala Val Pro Arg Ser Asp Ser Val Ala Ile Leu Glu Thr 20 25 30 Ile Pro Val Leu Pro Val His Ser Asn Gly Ser Pro Glu Pro Gly Gln 35 40 45 Pro Val Gln Asn 50 212 63 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (13) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 212 Ala Ile Ser Asp Asp Asp Phe Leu Glu Lys Asn Ile Xaa Pro Glu Ala 1 5 10 15 Glu Glu Leu Ser Phe Glu Val Ser Tyr Ser Glu Met Val Thr Glu Ala 20 25 30 Leu Lys Arg Asn Lys Leu Lys Lys Ser Glu Ile Lys Lys Glu Asp Tyr 35 40 45 Val Leu Thr Lys Phe Asn Xaa Gln Lys Thr Arg Phe Gly Leu Thr 50 55 60 213 32 PRT Homo sapiens 213 Leu Ala Gln Thr Val Thr Asp Met Pro Leu Thr Gly Thr Asn His Asp 1 5 10 15 Arg Gln Gly His Leu Leu Arg Ser Gly Thr Thr Tyr Tyr Leu Leu Ala 20 25 30 214 11 PRT Homo sapiens 214 Leu Ser Phe Leu Glu Leu Asp Ser Glu Cys Ser 1 5 10 215 83 PRT Homo sapiens 215 Trp Trp Ser Leu Glu Thr Arg Met Arg Thr Ala Arg Val Pro Met Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Trp Thr Arg Thr Pro Ser Phe Ala Arg Ala Leu Lys Phe Ser 20 25 30 Thr Gln Ser Trp Gly Thr Leu Ala Ala Arg Leu Phe Leu Ile Val Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Asp Arg Arg Ser Pro Pro Gly Trp Lys Pro Ile Val Lys Phe 50 55 60 Pro Gly Ala Val Asp Gly Ala Thr Tyr Asn Pro Gly Asp Gly Gly Ser 65 70 75 80 Arg Cys Pro 216 20 PRT Homo sapiens 216 Met Arg Thr Ala Arg Val Pro Met Arg Pro Ser Trp Thr Arg Thr Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Phe Ala Arg 20 217 21 PRT Homo sapiens 217 Pro Gly Trp Lys Pro Ile Val Lys Phe Pro Gly Ala Val Asp Gly Ala 1 5 10 15 Thr Tyr Asn Pro Gly 20 218 149 PRT Homo sapiens 218 Ser Ser Ser Arg Gly Pro Trp Thr Ala Gln Pro Ile Ile Leu Val Met 1 5 10 15 Val Asp Pro Asp Ala Pro Ser Arg Ala Glu Pro Arg Gln Arg Phe Trp 20 25 30 Arg His Trp Leu Val Thr Asp Ile Lys Gly Ala Asp Leu Lys Lys Gly 35 40 45 Lys Ile Gln Gly Gln Glu Leu Ser Ala Tyr Gln Ala Pro Ser Pro Pro 50 55 60 Ala His Ser Gly Phe His Arg Tyr Gln Phe Phe Val Tyr Leu Gln Glu 65 70 75 80 Gly Lys Val Ile Ser Leu Leu Pro Lys Glu Asn Lys Thr Arg Gly Ser 85 90 95 Trp Lys Met Asp Arg Phe Leu Asn Arg Phe His Leu Gly Glu Pro Glu 100 105 110 Ala Ser Thr Gln Phe Met Thr Gln Asn Tyr Gln Asp Ser Pro Thr Leu 115 120 125 Gln Ala Pro Arg Glu Arg Ala Ser Glu Pro Lys His Lys Asn Gln Ala 130 135 140 Glu Ile Ala Ala Cys 145 219 24 PRT Homo sapiens 219 Pro Ile Ile Leu Val Met Val Asp Pro Asp Ala Pro Ser Arg Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Gln Arg Phe Trp Arg His 20 220 23 PRT Homo sapiens 220 Lys Ile Gln Gly Gln Glu Leu Ser Ala Tyr Gln Ala Pro Ser Pro Pro 1 5 10 15 Ala His Ser Gly Phe His Arg 20 221 20 PRT Homo sapiens 221 Ile Ser Leu Leu Pro Lys Glu Asn Lys Thr Arg Gly Ser Trp Lys Met 1 5 10 15 Asp Arg Phe Leu 20 222 17 PRT Homo sapiens 222 Gln Glu Leu Ser Ala Tyr Gln Ala Pro Ser Pro Pro Ala His Ser Gly 1 5 10 15 Phe 223 8 PRT Homo sapiens 223 Pro Glu Val Pro Met Gly Trp Thr 1 5 224 86 PRT Homo sapiens 224 Met Arg Leu Val Thr Ala Ala Leu Leu Leu Gly Leu Met Met Val Val 1 5 10 15 Thr Gly Asp Glu Asp Glu Asn Ser Pro Cys Ala His Glu Ala Leu Leu 20 25 30 Asp Glu Asp Thr Leu Phe Cys Gln Gly Leu Glu Val Phe Tyr Pro Glu 35 40 45 Leu Gly Asn Ile Gly Cys Lys Val Val Pro Asp Cys Asn Asn Tyr Arg 50 55 60 Gln Lys Ile Thr Ser Trp Met Glu Ala Asp Ser Gln Val Pro Gly Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Gly Arg Arg Asn Leu 85 225 84 PRT Homo sapiens 225 Pro Ile Leu Trp Gly Asn Arg Val Pro Met Glu Pro Gln Lys Cys His 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Gly Trp His Gly Leu Gly Gln Glu Ala Glu Ala Gly Asp Gln 20 25 30 Asp Gly Arg Trp Arg Pro Gly Leu Pro Gln Arg Lys Arg Pro Pro Ala 35 40 45 Gly Ala Gly Gln Ala Trp Leu Ser Cys His Arg His Met Val Glu Arg 50 55 60 Gly Val Pro Cys Pro Pro Trp Gly Gly Gly Thr Arg Ala Leu Val Tyr 65 70 75 80 Ser Asp Ala Gly 226 26 PRT Homo sapiens 226 Pro Met Glu Pro Gln Lys Cys His Pro Ala Gly Trp His Gly Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Gln Glu Ala Glu Ala Gly Asp Gln Asp Gly 20 25 227 28 PRT Homo sapiens 227 Ala Gly Ala Gly Gln Ala Trp Leu Ser Cys His Arg His Met Val Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Gly Val Pro Cys Pro Pro Trp Gly Gly Gly Thr 20 25 228 136 PRT Homo sapiens SITE (3) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 228 Ser Pro Xaa Thr His Val Gln Gly Gln Thr Gly Met Tyr Val Ile Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Leu Pro Arg Gly His Pro Pro Leu Leu Gly Pro 20 25 30 Pro Trp Pro Asp Pro Phe Cys Gly Glu Thr Gly Cys Pro Trp Ser Leu 35 40 45 Arg Asn Ala Thr Arg Leu Val Gly Met Ala Trp Gly Arg Arg Gln Arg 50 55 60 Gln Glu Thr Lys Met Ala Gly Gly Gly Gln Ala Tyr His Asn Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu Pro Leu Gly Pro Gly Arg Pro Gly Ser Ala Ala Thr Gly Ile 85 90 95 Trp Trp Arg Gly Gly Tyr Pro Ala His Leu Gly Val Val Ala Pro Glu 100 105 110 Leu Leu Ser Ile Gln Thr Leu Val Trp Gly Leu Gly Pro Leu Thr Gly 115 120 125 Asp Arg Ala Ser Val Gly Glu Phe 130 135 229 25 PRT Homo sapiens 229 Trp Gly Leu Gly Gly Gly Leu Pro Arg Gly His Pro Pro Leu Leu Gly 1 5 10 15 Pro Pro Trp Pro Asp Pro Phe Cys Gly 20 25 230 26 PRT Homo sapiens 230 Gln Arg Gln Glu Thr Lys Met Ala Gly Gly Gly Gln Ala Tyr His Asn 1 5 10 15 Gly Arg Asp Leu Pro Leu Gly Pro Gly Arg 20 25 231 20 PRT Homo sapiens 231 His Leu Gly Val Val Ala Pro Glu Leu Leu Ser Ile Gln Thr Leu Val 1 5 10 15 Trp Gly Leu Gly 20 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotide fragment of SEQ ID NO:X or a polynucleotide fragment of the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide fragment encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (c) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide domain encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (d) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide epitope encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (e) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y or the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X, having biological activity; (f) a polynucleotide which is a variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (g) a polynucleotide which is an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (h) a polynucleotide which encodes a species homologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y; (i) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in (a)-(h), wherein said polynucleotide does not hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequence of only A residues or of only T residues.
 2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a secreted protein.
 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding the sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:Y or the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X.
 4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises the entire nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X.
 5. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises sequential nucleotide deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus.
 6. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 3, wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises sequential nucleotide deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus.
 7. A recombinant vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 8. A method of making a recombinant host cell comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 9. A recombinant host cell produced by the method of claim
 8. 10. The recombinant host cell of claim 9 comprising vector sequences.
 11. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (b) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, having biological activity; (c) a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (d) a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (e) a secreted form of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (f) a full length protein of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (g) a variant of SEQ ID NO:Y; (h) an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:Y; or (i) a species homologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y.
 12. The isolated polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the secreted form or the full length protein comprises sequential amino acid deletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus.
 13. An isolated antibody that binds specifically to the isolated polypeptide of claim
 11. 14. A recombinant host cell that expresses the isolated polypeptide of claim
 11. 15. A method of making an isolated polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the recombinant host cell of claim 14 under conditions such that said polypeptide is expressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 16. The polypeptide produced by claim
 15. 17. A method for preventing, treating, or ameliorating a medical condition, comprising administering to a mammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of claim 11 or the polynucleotide of claim
 1. 18. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the polynucleotide of claim 1; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or absence of said mutation.
 19. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a) determining the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide of claim 11 in a biological sample; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide.
 20. A method for identifying a binding partner to the polypeptide of claim 11 comprising: (a) contacting the polypeptide of claim 11 with a binding partner; and (b) determining whether the binding partner effects an activity of the polypeptide.
 21. The gene corresponding to the cDNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 22. A method of identifying an activity in a biological assay, wherein the method comprises: (a) expressing SEQ ID NO:X in a cell; (b) isolating the supernatant; (c) detecting an activity in a biological assay; and (d) identifying the protein in the supernatant having the activity.
 23. The product produced by the method of claim
 20. 